Chapter Twenty-Two

The next two weeks were such a morass of raw emotions that, later, Hannah could barely recall what she said or did. Aaron’s engagement was announced, and Maria and her aunt and uncle then felt free to call at all hours of the day. At first, Hannah felt she must be welcoming and civil to them, but Julia soon divested her of that noble notion.

“Hannah, don’t be absurd! She deliberately lied at your first trial; don’t be misled about that. She says now that she made a mistake, but that’s simply more of her lies!”

Julia’s friendship was a great comfort to Hannah, and not only because she liked her. A tiny worm of an idea had entered her mind, and she hoped she was correct: there seemed to be a little bit of liking between Gabriel and Julia.

It had begun, Hannah realized on looking back, the day after she returned to River’s Edge after the second trial. Miss Middleburg had been her first visitor, and her kindness had made her even more popular in the household than she had been before. Julia, on her very first visit, had entered with a basket of flowers. Gabriel had been present when she arrived and, interested in every plant, he had stayed to ask Julia about the blooms.

“These are from my hothouse,” she had replied. “They are actually meadow flowers that appear rather pitiful and scraggly in the wild, but if one places them in rich soil and protects them from the damage of insects, they grow into these lovely blooms.”

During subsequent visits, Gabriel accompanied Julia and Hannah on several walks about the fields and forests, and the three had comfortable, companionable talks as they went along. As sorrowing as her heart was during this period, Hannah was grateful for the warm friendship of them both.

Two days before Hannah and Gabriel were to leave with the children, Julia hurried in with a look of excitement on her face. She hugged the rigid Mrs. Carne and, seeing Clara and Bertie, embraced them also. They stared at her in amazement.

“I must speak with Miss Winstead!” Julia declared. “And Mr. Clarke, as well, if he’s here.”

Julia was pacing the parlor when first Gabriel, then Hannah, entered. They looked at her flushed face and bright smile in surprise.

“I have some interesting news for both of you!” Julia cried. “You can see how happy I am, so you must not dash my hopes by not being happy yourselves!”

They all sat down and Julia began. “Hannah, dear, you and I have talked at length about your plans, and I know you’re not completely happy with what you’ve decided to do. As it happens, this very morning I received a letter that might provide you with an alternative answer to your present dilemma.” She paused to take breath, while the others fixed their eyes on her face with twin expressions of curiosity.

“The letter was from Miss Lorelei Wilson, the cousin of whom you’ve heard me speak quite often. I had sent her a dress you had made because she was curious about this young designer mentioned in my letters. And what do you think she said?”

Julia looked eagerly into the faces of her listeners, but neither had an idea. In a moment, she answered her own question.

“She adores the dress and desires that you’ll come to Boston and stay with her family for a time. She wants you to design and make an entirely new wardrobe for her sister and herself! And she writes ‘by the time Miss Winstead is done with us, her fame will be such, she’ll be able to name her price for a gown.’ ”

Hannah stared at Julia. It had never occurred to her to perhaps earn a living as Mrs. Tark did, with a little shop and an array of faithful clients. The idea sparked her interest, and for a moment, the heavy sorrow in her heart lifted.

“Well, Hannah, what do you think? I’ll accompany you to Boston and make the introductions and then visit from time to time. We won’t be parted by a great ocean of water, but only by a journey of one day!”

Hannah smiled at the eager face of her friend. “I don’t know what to say. It’s an extremely generous offer on the part of your cousin. Are you quite certain that she truly means it? Has her mother agreed to the scheme?”

“My dear, the Wilson family has such wealth! My cousins change their entire wardrobes more often than other girls change their bonnets! Their kind-hearted mama indulges them in everything, and their papa is too busy making money from the new railroads to worry about the activities of the household. You’ll be a pampered pet, you may be sure!”

“If I thought I could truly build a livelihood designing gowns, I’d certainly go,” Hannah replied slowly.

“You might agree to try it for a time,” Gabriel offered, “and if it doesn’t suit you, write to me. You can take a schooner from Boston, and I’ll meet you in London.”

“Thank you,” Hannah replied. She was thinking deeply, and one part of the scheme particularly attracted her. Maria and Aaron would travel to England after the wedding. By remaining in America, she would keep a vast distance between them and herself.

While Hannah was considering these matters, Julia was turning to Gabriel. “Mr. Clarke, I have not forgotten you! I spoke to my father of your plan to study science in London, and he suggested you consider New York instead. He said he has some influence with a certain gentleman in the Natural Science Society, someone he knew years ago at school and with whom he keeps up a correspondence.”

Gabriel sat forward, his attention claimed. “The Natural Science Society is well known. Lamarck himself spoke highly of the group.”

“So Papa says,” Julia replied. “Papa’s friend—his name is Willoughby—has described in his recent letters an expedition of some sort to an island. I’ve forgotten the name, but it seems one can make a study of some rather unique plants there. With your permission, Papa will write Mr. Willoughby to seek his assistance in procuring you an invitation to be part of the journey.”

“Indeed!” Gabriel cried, amazed. “Does your father truly think this Mr. Willoughby will assist me? I don’t have training to be a scientist, and I’m rather old to begin. I’ve long feared I’d be turned away by the prominent men with whom I’d like to study.”

“I know little of such matters,” Julia replied, “but I do know Papa was impressed with your botanical sketches and descriptions. Excuse my boldness, but I showed him your notebook one day when he was here at River’s Edge. I hope you aren’t annoyed with me.”

“Annoyed with you?” Gabriel replied. “Who could be annoyed with an angel?”

This caught Hannah’s attention, and she looked up in time to see Julia blush.

“Please call on my father, and discuss it with him. I know you must take the children to England in two days, but I hope—” She blushed again and lowered her eyes. “I hope you might return and partake of Papa’s assistance.”

“I’ll call on your father today,” he replied. “If there’s an opportunity for me in New York, I’ll avail myself of it, you may be sure. The children can remain with Aaron until the wedding and travel to England with him and Maria.”

Hannah spoke. “Gabriel, the boys have been told you and I will be with them on the journey. It makes me sad to think of disappointing them.”

“Hannah, dear, if opportunities are here in America for both of us, we’d be fools to throw them away. The children are my brother’s wards, and as much as I’m fond of them, I won’t take on the burden of their care when he’s perfectly able to care for them himself.” He glanced at Julia, hoping he didn’t sound selfish, but she smiled encouragingly. “If you desire to go to Miss Middleburg’s cousin,” he continued, “then that’s what you should do. The children will be perfectly well with Aaron, and Miss Maria had better learn to care for them if she’s to be their mother.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Oh dear, how will I ever say goodbye to them? It will hurt them, and how can I bear to hurt them?”

Gabriel immediately rose and sat next to her on the settee. “Hannah, you dear, good girl, you’re so tender-hearted, I fear life is going to give you a large share of pain.”

She looked into his face, wondering if he guessed the nature of her feelings for his brother. The pain she would endure in parting from the children would be severe, but how could she say farewell to Aaron?

****

In three days’ time, Hannah found exactly how much pain she would suffer at saying goodbye to those she loved. She had accepted Miss Wilson’s offer, and she, Julia, and Mrs. Middleburg were to depart the following morning.

Hannah had tears not only for the children but also for the Carnes. She could not speak to any of them on the last morning without crying. Mrs. Carne told her she would always be welcome to stay with them on the farm, and Clara added that she and Corey would find room in their cottage for her. It was not goodbye, they all assured her. They would meet again.

When the Middleburgs’ carriage arrived, Aaron appeared from his study and motioned to her. She entered the room, and he closed the door. Without a word, he took her in his arms and held her.

“Go with God, my love,” he breathed into her hair. “Go with God, and take my love with you.”

Hannah rested her head against his chest, and for a few precious moments, they held each other. But then, using every ounce of will she could command, she pulled away from him and ran from the room. In the carriage, she buried her face in her handkerchief and was comforted against the round shoulder of Mrs. Middleburg. She did not see Aaron standing in the window upstairs, but he was there, his own tears blurring his vision as he watched the carriage for as long as it could be seen in the misty morning.