Chapter Twenty

It was raining two weeks later when Hannah was once again taken into the courtroom to hear the jury’s verdict. The new trial had been swift, for the prosecution had no evidence. Mr. Brockton, sure of success but keeping his thoughts to himself, made a fine summing-up speech, calling upon the jury to be grateful they had been given an opportunity to right a miscarriage of justice.

Brockton’s only concern was that Hannah had made rather a poor witness in her own defense. She had stated her innocence when prompted by his questions, but her obvious lack of interest in the proceedings might, he feared, lead the jury to believe she was guilty after all.

As the brief trial had progressed, Brockton had confided his fears to Aaron, but Aaron was powerless to help. Hannah wouldn’t see him. If a visitor came to her cell, she would huddle in the corner and refuse to respond. In her mind, she was certain the second trial would result in another death sentence, and this was simply more torture to be endured before death released her. Aware that Sheriff Madison had given her a drug before she was to be hanged the first time, she had now no fear of the pain to be borne and only wished for it all to be over.

Rain pattered against the windows as Hannah, accompanied by Brockton, seated herself on the hard, wooden bench in the hot, damp, crowded courtroom to await the jury. With little curiosity, she gazed about. The judge was conferring with the prosecutor, looking over his spectacles and nodding as the prosecutor spoke. Sheriff Madison stood nearby surveying the courtroom with his thumbs hooked into his belt and booted feet slightly apart. There was a scuffling noise from the rear of the room, and Hannah turned her head slightly. She saw Mr. and Mrs. Carne, Katie, Alberta, Clara, and Corey seating themselves in the visitors’ row. As she watched, Captain Clarke entered the courtroom with another man, whom she did not recognize. She was startled to see Julia Middleburg enter with her mother and father. A few moments later, Julia slid over to make room for Mrs. Tark, the dressmaker. What on earth are all those people doing here?

Brockton pressed her arm. She glanced at him, following his gaze. A side door had opened, and the jury was entering. They shuffled past the judge’s bench, while a silence fell over the room. Suddenly, someone coughed, and the sound made Hannah tremble.

Brockton took a grip on her arm, preparing to help her rise. She didn’t want to rise; she felt suddenly exhausted beyond any ability to move.

The judge banged his gavel. “These proceedings will come to order. Gentlemen of the jury, I’ve been informed that you’ve reached a verdict.”

“We have, Your Honor,” called out Willard Hull, the jury foreman. As he spoke, the other men, sitting straight and dignified as befitted their important civic responsibility, nodded in agreement.

“Hannah Winstead,” said the judge, “you will rise to receive the jury’s verdict.”

Brockton pulled Hannah to her feet. The sudden rise made her light-headed, and she staggered against him.

“Mr. Brockton!” queried the judge. “Is the defendant fit to receive the verdict?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Miss Winstead?”

Brockton squeezed her arm and whispered, “Answer him!”

Hannah was unsure of the question but managed to whisper, “Yes, sir.”

“Mr. Hull, what is the jury’s verdict?”

Hannah, against her will, looked toward the jury. She was sure she’d hear that terrible word guilty again, but she seemed unable to pull her eyes away from Mr. Hull as he stood ramrod straight in the jury box. She felt dizzy from lack of food and leaned against Brockton. His hand was tight on her arm, and she felt him shift his weight to better support her.

Willard Hull cleared his throat and looked at Hannah, then at the judge. “Not guilty, Your Honor.”

The courtroom exploded. Cries of “Thanks be to God!” came from the Carne women and shouts of “Yahoo!” from the men. Talking and laughter and the scuffling of feet echoed through the room. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” cried the judge. “Order in the court!

Aaron was trying to make his way to the prisoner’s box, and the judge shook the gavel at him. “Captain Clarke, be seated!”

Aaron sank onto a bench, his heart pounding. Could the judge overturn the not guilty verdict? Surely not! He waited in agonizing impatience for the man’s next words.

“Miss Winstead, the jury having found you not guilty of the crime of murder, you are hereby released. This court is adjourned.”

Hannah, dazed and faint, found herself clutched in Brockton’s arms. Faces and voices swam all around her, and people touched and patted her as Brockton held her tight. By the time the attorney felt Hannah become steadier on her feet and loosened his grip, Aaron had reached her. Without a word, he took hold of her, swept her into his arms, and pushed his way out of the courtroom. Corey rushed ahead to throw open the doors, and Gabriel followed behind, raising a hand to hold back the crowd that wanted to congratulate Hannah.

“Later!” Gabriel cried, moving backward to keep the joyous crowd at bay. “You can visit Miss Winstead at home, and she’ll be extremely happy to receive you! Please, make way!”

Aaron assisted Hannah hurriedly into the phaeton, leapt aboard, and seized the reins. Corey and Gabriel jumped up behind, and the carriage surged forward, narrowly missing an ale dray as it turned sharply. Aaron urged the horses to a canter, and they splashed through the puddles, over the bridge, down the lane, and up the gravel drive to River’s Edge.

By the time the horses had halted by the portico, with steam rising from their flanks, Hannah’s mind had cleared, and she was sitting very still in the carriage, stunned by the revelation that she was free. Her eyes wide with wonder, she turned to look at Aaron. For a moment his eyes met hers, and she saw a look of tenderness on his face she had never seen before. His hand closed over hers.

“I am free?” Hannah whispered, suddenly afraid it was a mistake and the gallows still awaited her.

“You’re free, Hannah. Yes, you’re free. The jury found you innocent, and you can never again be tried for the crime. That’s the law.”

“But—but how?”

“Did you not hear Maria’s testimony? And Whetherton’s?”

Hannah’s face clouded with confusion. “No, I…”

“Never mind,” Aaron said, patting her hand. “I’ll explain it all at a later time. Come, I’ll help you upstairs. Mrs. Carne will draw you a hot bath, I’m sure, as soon as she returns.”

Gabriel went with Corey to unhitch the horses, and Aaron led Hannah inside and up the stairs. In a few moments, she found herself in her own dear chamber and feeling a wonder that almost overwhelmed her, she touched each object lovingly. Her books, her trinkets, her carefully sewn dresses—she wandered about the room and ran her fingers over each cherished item of her once carefree past.

Aaron stood in the doorway and watched her, his face drawn with worry. Had the terrible experience affected her mind in some way? He prayed not, and yet she seemed remote, as if she had floated from earth and could only with great effort touch the ground again.

But then she turned, as though she had recalled his presence. She smiled, and a ray of light in her eyes gave him hope. In time, perhaps, she would be as before.

Suddenly, there came the sound of the front door opening and closing. Hannah started at the noise, and Aaron stepped into the room and took her hand.

“Hannah, what is it?”

“Sheriff Madison is coming for me!”

“No, Hannah, ’tis only Mr. and Mrs. Carne with the children.”

He took her gently by the shoulders and looked into her face. “Hannah, dear, you must calm yourself. No one is coming for you. Here, I want you to lie down on the bed. I’m going to get Bertie and Katie to tend to you.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot for a moment.”

She allowed herself to be helped onto the bed.

“Please,” she whispered, “may I bathe?”

“Of course. Katie and Bertie will help you.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind.”

Bertie entered the room, and Aaron turned to her. “Miss Winstead is weak and confused. Be sure she returns to bed after bathing.”

He left the room but returned later with Clara and the children. The boys rushed to Hannah, climbing on the bed with the carelessness of children and settling themselves on her lap. She pulled herself up to a sitting position to accommodate them. Bertie and Katie placed pillows behind her, and all three maids gathered around, talking in low tones and expressing their joy at her return.

Aaron quietly left the room, but as he walked down the hall, his smile faded. He had paid a high price to save Hannah Winstead. Two persons were waiting to collect their terrible dues, and he realized with a sigh his love for Hannah and desire to save her life had condemned him to a loveless marriage and a life without her.

****

Hannah awakened the next morning to bright fall sunshine. She had slept well but upon waking gave a start, thinking she was in prison. With awe, she looked about her chamber and saw the gentle sunlight streaming through the gauze drapery.

She was home. The nightmare was over.

When she went downstairs, she found Clara and the Carne women were determined to fuss over her and treat her as an invalid, but she laughed them away with assurances that she was quite well. She felt so herself, although the looseness of her dress and the worried expression on the women’s faces informed her she did not appear well to others. She attempted to partake of the plentiful breakfast Mrs. Carne placed before her but could eat only a little.

“Miss Winstead!” admonished Mrs. Carne, “you will never restore your health if you do not eat!”

“I need to walk out of doors to restore my appetite,” Hannah replied. “If I can but move about, I’ll soon be well again.”

“Then walk, by all means,” replied Mrs. Carne. “But take one of the girls with you. Don’t go out alone.”

“Yes, dear Mrs. Carne, I’ll do as you say. Thank you for your kindness…for everything.”

“Dear Miss Winstead, I only wish we could have done more.”

At that moment, Aaron and Gabriel entered the dining room. Hannah composed herself and sat straight in her chair, for she was now to meet Captain Clarke’s brother for the first time. The introductions made, Gabriel offered to accompany her on a walk. Aaron had business in town but instead of departing, lingered in the room.

As Hannah was leaving the dining parlor to fetch a shawl, she heard Aaron whisper to Gabriel, “Say nothing to her of the arrangements.” She heard no more, but it struck her as odd. Did he refer to herself? If so, what was to be kept from her?

When she returned downstairs, Aaron was gone. Offering his arm gallantly, Gabriel escorted her from the house.

Hannah wanted to go first to the barn to see Blaze, and Gabriel was very willing to accede. He was fond of horses, he told her, and liked to be about them.

After a joyful reunion with Blaze, who snuffled against her in search of the apple she had hidden in her pocket, Hannah found herself once again on Gabriel’s arm and strolling slowly along the path to the river. Memories filled her mind as she passed the paddock where she had leapt on Blaze to escape Lord Earling. And there farther on was the little rise where Clara and Corey had met her. What a dreadful day it had been!

Sensing by her silence that Hannah’s thoughts had perhaps wandered to painful events, Gabriel led her to the bench by the river.

“Rest a little,” he said, sitting beside her. “The fearsome Mrs. Carne will cut off my ear if I bring you back fatigued.”

“Indeed!” Hannah laughed. “She’s a dear, dear lady, but one would not wish to be on her bad side.”

“I like her very much, despite her sharp tongue,” he replied, chuckling. “I like all the Carnes. Mr. Carne took me about the countryside and named the indigenous flora for me. I have the names and sketches in my notebook.”

“How interesting!” she replied. “I didn’t know you were a student of botany.”

He shook his head, as if to denigrate his own foolishness. “I find myself to be a student of everything. All of nature fascinates me completely, from the smallest insect to the mightiest oak.”

She regarded his visage, noting his look of wistfulness. He did not much resemble Aaron. His hair was darker and straighter, and his eyes were brown. He looked back at her, smiling at her expression.

“You are examining me!” he declared. “From being the observer who studies everything, I have become a subject to be studied myself!”

“I was thinking,” she replied with a smile, “you and Captain Clarke do not look a great deal alike.”

“No, he’s very like my mother, and I’m like my father.”

There was silence for a few moments. Hannah gazed toward the river as if seeing its beauty for the first time. Autumn-hued trees on its banks were reflected in the silvery water, and a group of swans floated downstream in the lazy current.

“It’s such a beautiful river. I’ll miss it greatly.”

Gabriel was surprised. “Why do you say that? Where are you going?”

“I don’t know,” she replied softly. “But one can’t be tried for murder and then simply go back to one’s old life.”

“Hannah, I don’t think anyone in the village believed you were guilty of the crime.”

“How can you say so? A jury convicted me.”

“But those men were not your acquaintances. They were told by the judge to reach a decision based on the evidence. Everyone in your circle of friends is convinced of your innocence.”

“Perhaps,” she said slowly. “But I wish the true murderer had been apprehended.”

“Do you have any inkling of who might have killed the man? What was his name? Earling?”

“Lord Earling, yes. But to answer your first question, no. He was a stranger here. Who could have wished him harm?”

“Indeed,” he replied, “I’m certain that was the exact sentiment in Sheriff Madison’s mind when he accused you. It seems no one else had a motive.”

“Yes,” she replied thoughtfully.

He glanced at her profile as she gazed at the river. “You do realize, Hannah, Madison came to believe in your innocence.”

“So he has informed me,” she replied with a hint of wryness in her voice. “I wish he had not been so quick to accuse me, considering he later came to regret it.”

“He made a grave error, and the first jury made an even graver one.” Gabriel hesitated, not wanting to allude to painful subjects, but then added, “The real fault belongs to the two people who lied on the witness stand. And they, it seems, will not be punished.”

Hannah appeared lost in thought as he glanced at her, and he was aware that she had scarcely heard his last words.

“Gabriel…” she said finally, turning toward him. “May I call you Gabriel?”

“Most certainly.”

“Something happened…that I must discuss with someone.”

“Please consider me a friend, Hannah. Pray speak freely to me.”

“Thank you,” she replied, but was silent for some moments, leaning forward on the bench and gazing on the smooth silver flow of the Mystic.

Hannah finally spoke, but so softly that he moved closer to hear.

“Mr. Brockton,” she began, “was very angry at me because I seemed…remote…during the second trial. He was afraid the jury would see my aloofness as a proof of guilt.”

“Yes,” agreed Gabriel. “He expressed his fears to us, but there was nothing we could do. You wouldn’t respond to anyone.”

“That’s true, and I realize now how selfish it was of me.”

“Selfish! Hannah, no! Under the circumstances, your behavior was perfectly understandable. You thought you were going to die, and you didn’t want to be dragged back into the world of the living. Am I correct?”

“You are,” she said softly, “but you’re more correct than you realize.”

“What do you mean?”

“When…when I was alone, in my lockup cage, my mind would wander somewhere—I don’t know how to explain.”

Gabriel took her hand and held it, and then he reached toward her and pulled her shawl more tightly about her shoulders.

“Are you quite warm enough?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Go on then.”

She sighed. “You’re going to think me mad.”

“No, not at all, I assure you.”

“When my mind wandered to that place, I saw two people.”

“Who were the people?” he asked quietly.

“They were my mother and father.”

Gabriel sat still, his eyes toward the river. He was aware that she had turned toward him. Finally, he looked at her and smiled encouragingly.

“Please go on,” he said. “I won’t think you mad, I promise.”

“You’re like your brother in one way,” she declared. “You’re willing to listen and not judge.”

“Thank you. Now pray continue.”

“I was told by the Godders—my guardians—that I was three years old when my parents died. Although I can’t recall their death, I’m fully aware I may carry memories of them buried in my mind.”

“Certainly.”

“The mind can play tricks,” she continued, “and often it’s difficult to distinguish reality from the world of the imagination.”

“That’s very true indeed.”

“When my mind wandered to…that place…it seemed real to me…and I didn’t want to return to the present. It seemed my father and mother were speaking to me. My mother kept pointing to something.”

Gabriel shivered.

“What did your mother point to?”

“My left shoulder.”

“Your left shoulder?”

“Yes. And my mother said…” She paused and pulled forth a handkerchief.

Gabriel sat silently while she dabbed at her face.

“My mother said, ‘You must go back.’ ”

“Do you know what that means? Back where?”

“I don’t know. The Godders said my parents died in India, but they couldn’t remember the name of the place.”

“Indeed!” he replied, with disgust in his voice. “There were some fancy untruths flowing from that charming couple, I fear.”

“That’s what Aaron says as well.”

After silence for a few moments, Hannah spoke again. “Once in my cage, I awoke during the night. It was a deep black night without a single ray of light coming from anywhere. I realized when I awoke that I’d been dreaming. I tried to capture the dream, but it flew away quickly.”

“Do you recall any of it?”

“Yes, there was an island. I’m not sure how I knew it was an island, but I did. It was surrounded by water of a lovely azure color. Someone on the island was calling to me.”

“An azure color…” he mused. “It sounds like an island in the Caribbean Sea. You may well have seen such an island pictured in books.”

“Yes,” she replied, “I have indeed.”

She was silent again, staring at the river. “Come, Hannah,” he said, rising and taking her arm, “let’s get you back to the house.”

“But…I must tell you one more thing about the dream.”

“Very well.”

She rose, and they began to walk slowly homeward.

“I saw the graves on the island.”

“The graves?”

“I saw my parents’ graves. And…now I know…they’re buried on an island…somewhere.”

Gabriel stopped and looked at her. She looked up at him with a white, frightened, tear-streaked face.

“Come,” he said finally, taking her arm. “You’re chilled and fatigued. You must rest now, and we’ll speak more about this later.”

She nodded, and slowly they followed the path to River’s Edge. Gabriel held her arm tightly, and she leaned on him, as if all her strength were gone.