Dreams of Idlewood Page 9

  Chapter Eleven – Aubrey

  Dashing into the carriage behind Percy, I fell beside him and whimpered as the sound of the barking hounds began to fade behind us. I had no idea who the carriage belonged to, but I did not fret. I was with my own dear love, my golden husband, the keeper of my heart. I wept on his chest as he smoothed my hair and pulled me close.

  “It’s all right now. We are together, Aubrey. I will never leave you again.”

  And that was enough. We rode for over an hour, and when the carriage finally came to a creaking stop, we stepped out into the night in front of a small wooden home, a place I did not recognize. “Where are we, Percy? Is this far enough? Will he find us?”

  “Hush now. We are safe here. Tomorrow evening, we sail together, away from this evil place. We will start over and be as we once were.” I nodded, wanting to believe his promise with all my heart. The carriage disappeared as he stepped inside, and I followed him. Would I ever again allow him to leave my sight? Certainly I would rather die. He searched for matches and soon had a warm glow burning in the fireplace. It was a good thing too. There was a chill in the night air, and rain was beginning to fall. It tapped lightly on the tin roof at first, then began to beat upon it in a steady, comforting rhythm. I breathed a sigh of relief. A good rainfall would most certainly hide us. At least for a little while. I closed the curtains on all the windows. Better to stay hidden from any passerby, but who would find us in this wild place?

  There were two rockers before the fireplace, and one held a cozy-looking quilt. It was so inviting that I immediately availed myself of the comfort it offered, hoping to warm up before foraging for food for us both. Perhaps Percy had thought of that too. Was this his place? Had he been only a carriage ride away this whole time? I didn’t want to believe that. I couldn’t allow myself to think it!

  I stared at him as he poked at his fledgling fire. He looked better than when last I saw him. He’d become so thin after Tallulah’s death, as if he’d pledged to never eat again. His hair was longer but still bright and almost golden. He let it flow freely around his shoulders. He did not dress as a fine gentleman today; his clothing was threadbare, and the cuffs were obviously worn. I studied his profile as he dusted his hands and sat in the chair beside me. Still as handsome as ever, Percy had a perfect profile. How lucky I’d felt to be married to such an exquisitely handsome man; how jealous my small circle of friends had been! And to think I’d given him up for dead.

  Oh God! I have married his brother! Does he know?

  I pulled the quilt up to my chin as if it could hide my sin from him.

  “Are you cold? It will warm up soon, dearest. Just give it time.”

  “Percy, how did you know where to find me? I thought I would die down there,” I said, my eyes staring at the promised blaze that suddenly erupted into a warming bank of flames.

  He stared at the fire too. His tone and cadence changed slightly as he spoke. “I used to have a hound named Jack. My father gave him to me for my twelfth birthday, and Tallulah kept his sister, Marla. Jack was the runt, but he was smart. Smart as a whip. I loved that dog! He was so loyal that he slept at the foot of my bed every night. One day I came home and Jack was gone. We searched for him for days but never found him. A few months later, my brother revealed to me where I could find the dog. He was shackled in the basement of the garconniere, likely starved to death, or perhaps Michael had beaten him to death. By the time I found him I could not tell, and Michael would never say. I asked him why he would do such a thing, as he’d never expressed an interest in the dog before one way or the other. He never answered me. My father whipped him soundly, but he was unrepentant.”

  “So you believe Michael would have killed me, like the dog? And so you rescued me?”

  “To tell you the truth, I did not know you were there until I entered the place. I heard your voice calling for help.”

  Crestfallen, I whispered, “You didn’t come for me, then?”

  “I always planned to come for you, Aubrey, but I’m a man with no name, no fortune, no way to provide for you. How would my retrieval of you help in any way?”

  Glassy tears filled my eyes and obscured my view of the fire; only the brightness shone clearly. He didn’t know, then. He didn’t know what I’d endured, that I married his brother. And he had not come for me.

  “Aubrey…” He was suddenly kneeling before me, those beautiful blue eyes looking into my face. His hand gently wiped away the tears. “Had I known you were in danger, that Michael would dare to lift a finger against you, then of course I would have come. I went looking for my papers, something to prove my identity. I don’t dare go into the house or he will kill me. I am sorry for the danger I put you in. I am sure he put you there to punish me.”

  “I thought you were dead,” I said in a whisper. “You let me think you were dead.”

  “No, Aubrey. You knew I was alive. I sent you a letter. I told you where I was and where I was going.”

  “I received no letter. I thought you were dead.”

  He laid his head in my lap and cried. “I am sorry, Aubrey. I let you down. I always let down the people I love. You, Tallulah and Dot. Now I hear my mother is dead. Please forgive me. I swear to you upon my own soul that I will not leave you again.”

  Naturally my heart stirred. Here he was, and he was all I ever wanted. The man I always wanted. “Hush now, my love. We are together now, and that is all that matters. Nothing else matters. Just you and me.”

  When he stopped crying, he looked at me and we flew into a kiss. Percy’s hands were in my hair, then he removed the pins that held the remnants of my previously elegant bun. It cascaded over his hands and he touched it lovingly, not caring that I still smelled of sweat and fear.

  And there before the fire on a pallet we made with the quilt, we purged one another of the past, and of Michael and all the pain. We touched each other, kissed and made love until we felt the chill of the evening seep into our bones. Percy stoked the fire, and I wrapped up in the quilt and slipped into the small feather bed stowed in the corner of our humble abode. How wonderful to be free of our prison! To be away from Idlewood!

  Percy and I were quiet, not talking much beyond the sweet words that lovers whisper to one another on their pillows in the dark. I would not demand answers from him, not this night and maybe not any other. I never wanted to cause him pain. We were one again as we’d always meant to be—together. Yes! Let the past die and let tomorrow come! For the first time in over a year I welcomed tomorrow, for it would arrive in a happy glow and I would be safe in Percy’s strong arms. We would find our way in this world. Together.

  Peaceful at last, we fell asleep and I dreamed of nothing. I woke to the sound of squirrels chirping outside our window. The rain had ended, and I could smell the fresh air; my stomach rumbled, but I was happy. I rose, stretching with a huge smile on my face. Percy slept heavily beside me, and I was loath to wake him. Perhaps I could find some fresh eggs nearby or muster up something else for breakfast. I did not know much about cooking, but I wanted to try for him. He needed me. As I went to sling back the covers, I noticed that we were not alone.

  Sitting in one of the rocking chairs was Michael!

  He wore his black morning suit with a fresh collar and cuffs, and his hair was perfectly arranged. He wore it short and combed neatly. His walking stick lay across his knee, the familiar silver top glinting in the morning light. I noticed that he had not come alone; there was another man outside, and even though I could not see his face, I knew it could only have been the lowly Edward LaGrange. Bridget’s husband was the only man allowed to witness the inner workings of Michael’s shameful family, as he described us all. Horses snorted in the cold morning air, and I gasped, pulling the covers around me to cover my naked body.

  “Good morning, wife.”

  “I am not your wife,” I said as I shoved Percy’s shoulder. He woke immediately and sat up in the bed like the devil himself had visited us. Indeed, he had.

>   “Why are you here?” Percy said, reaching for his pants that hung from the corner post. He wasted no time getting dressed. He courteously handed me my slip, and I put it on without a word.

  “Come now; don’t be dull, sir. You know exactly why I am here. You have taken my property, and I want it back. And you broke our agreement. Or were you too drunk to remember it, Mr. Sinclair? You aren’t to be anywhere near Idlewood or even in Mobile. What happened? Did you spend all your allowance? Is that why you have kidnapped my wife? Hoping to force me to comply with your demands?”

  Percy snorted at Michael’s words. “You dare come here like this! Without even knocking! You do not command me, Michael. And you do not command my wife. You may have stolen my inheritance and my name, but you will have nothing else! Now get out before I thrash you!”

  “Oh, it is too late for you to claim her as wife. Or hasn’t she told you?” Michael sneered, showing his crooked white teeth. There was nothing pleasant in that smile. He looked like an angry dog. “Now come, Aubrey. There’s no need to keep up this farce; it is torture for the man, and anyone can see he is not well. It is time. We must go home.” Despite his declaration, he didn’t rise up; he must have known I would not easily abandon Percy, that I would fight him at every turn. He knew my love for Percy was eternal and abiding. Nothing he could do would cause my affection to diminish in any capacity.

  “Michael, don’t,” I pleaded with him. “Just go.”

  Percy glared at him—he was wearing his shirt, suspenders and boots now. He walked to the door and flung it open. “Get out now!” Edward LaGrange tilted his hat at me but gave Percy a look that threatened murder. He did not come inside or make any attempt to drag me out. For that at least I was thankful. My eyes darted about the room. There must be a weapon here—a gun, perhaps. I could shoot a gun!

  Michael laughed at Percy and pointed at him as if he were the butt of some huge joke. It was a coarse chuckle at first and then a full-blown fit of laughter. No laughter had ever sounded so sinister and hollow. “But you know, don’t you? You already know!” Michael slapped his knee as if he were having the time of his life. “You knew all the time that I was taking her,” he said, leering at me, “and you did nothing to stop me.”

  “Please stop,” I said, covering my ears with my hands as if it would prevent the words from stabbing my heart.

  “He knew, Aubrey, and he did not rescue you. You will never take her place. He doesn’t love you, or else how could he have abandoned you?”

  Percy reached for the knife on the wooden dining table. It looked rusty and ridiculously large, but he wielded it as if he meant to use it. Could he defend us from them both? No, he could not! I leapt out of the bed, my feet slapping on the cold wooden floor. I reached for a skillet and stood beside Percy and shivered.

  Michael rose now, his smug smile growing as he wiped the tears of laughter from his eye. “He knew, and he did nothing. You can’t just abandon your husband, Aubrey. What will people say?” His voice changed, and he whacked the rocker with the wooden stick. It made a ferocious sound, and I jumped instinctively but did not leave Percy’s side.

  Percy’s hand was on my shoulder. “It’s all right, Aubrey. Let him say his hurtful words. He can’t separate us anymore.” I sniffled the heartbreak away and nodded. Michael was evil—surely these were lies. Surely they were!

  “You are an evil man. How did you become the creature that you are, Michael?”

  Michael took a step toward us, his gaze never leaving Percy’s face. He did not answer his brother’s question but continued his own script. “You left her quite accommodating, brother, but she’s not worth the fuss now. Did she tell you about our little party? She had a few too many drinks and lost her head. And I introduced her to the Creel Society. You remember our motto, don’t you? We brothers share all things…”

  Percy glanced at me and swallowed. “You lie! You are a lying bastard! You will pay for those words.”

  What could he mean? What did he mean? I couldn’t remember. It had been the Creel Society’s party I’d attended. Michael had been so excited about it all. He wanted to introduce me to his closest friends. I’d been told what to wear, how to arrange my hair. He’d even purchased new perfume for me. But I’d drunk only one glass of champagne, just one! Flashes of images filled my mind, and I gasped at the memories.

  “No! No, Michael!” Even as I denied it, I remembered the truth.

  “Aubrey?” Percy asked me, touching my shoulder.

  “I can’t remember. I woke up in the garconniere, where you found me! I swear it. I don’t remember.”

  Percy stood between Michael and me. “Enough of this! Do you think I will punish her for what you’ve done? I will not. Leave, brother, and do not show yourself to us again.”

  Michael’s face was a mask of solemnity now. LaGrange stood ready with his gun in hand, but Michael waved him away. He walked toward the door, and I thought for a moment we’d be free. Free forever. But he had to deliver the last wound to Percy, a wound that would never be healed.

  “But what about Tallulah? Is she forgotten?”

  “What are you talking about now, fool?” Percy waved the rusty knife at him, but Michael didn’t move. He positioned his hat on his head perfectly and stroked his mustache.

  “Percy,” I warned him, “make him leave, please. I beg of you.”

  “She wrote to our sister while you were gone. She explained to her how displeased you were with her refusal to marry Mr. Chestnut and how you did not wish to receive any more correspondence until she became his dutiful wife. But Tallulah could not stomach him. He was a distasteful man. Not worthy of taking a Ferguson wife. But your own sweet wife relayed in great detail your demeanor concerning the whole scandalous affair. She made sure our Golden Sister climbed that tree. But surely it was your dictation that she penned, your words that she wrote?”

  Percy’s confusion was apparent. “More lies. Is nothing sacred? She was your sister too. How dare you accuse Aubrey of conspiring in such an evil plot…” Percy’s words were less of a statement and more a question, and I knew it was over. The dream of love lost and found would end at this moment.

  I felt the room spinning. I’d forgotten that my arms were bare and that my feet were cold—I no longer cared. I sat in a nearby chair, still clutching the skillet. But I would not use it now. I’d been defeated, my secret revealed. I could never take back the words or the deed, and Percy would never forget the insinuation. Even if I could muster the skill and strength to lie to him, it would do no good. And after all I’d been through, I could not. What was the expression the old folks say? “The twisting of the leaf reveals the worm beneath.”

  “Aubrey?” Percy lowered his blade and faced me. “He’s lying. Tell him he’s a liar.”

  Michael paused and waited for my response. What could I say? My unbound hair fell around my face, and I slowly raised my head. This was the moment that I’d dreaded. For an entire year I dreaded this, and now it was upon me.

  With no more laughter, Michael made to leave. “And so I will leave you as I found you. Please do not return to Idlewood. Either of you.”

  Percy paced the floor. At long last he dropped the knife, but he was a broken man. He sat on the edge of the bed. “Tell me why, Aubrey. Why would you do that? Why would you write such a lie?”

  I sniffed as I grasped the skillet. “Because she would never let you go if I didn’t. I did it for us, Percy.”

  He wept, and I felt my heart harden at the sound. He cried and cried, but not for me. He cried for Tallulah. “Oh, my Tallulah! My sister!” As he ignored me and spiraled again into his own misery, I gathered my clothing and dressed myself. I did not bother fixing my hair. I left Percy in the cabin and began walking down the long road that would take me to Idlewood. I walked a whole day. By the time I made it back I was near exhaustion, but I had one last task to do.

  It was easy to find a rope. The old barn was only a hundred feet away from the tree. I grabbed the nearest o
ne and dragged it behind me; it felt heavy and dirty, but that didn’t matter now. I was not much good at climbing trees, but I could surely manage to climb this one once. It was the largest tree on the property with a thick gray trunk and thick branches, more than capable of bearing my weight. I was not as tall as Tallulah and much smaller. I threw the rope into the air a few times before I caught the branch. Oh yes, this was easy. It was as if some unseen force guided me along, helping me achieve my goal. Evening out the rope so it wouldn’t slip from the branch once I climbed up, I examined the trunk to discern the path upward. It was not difficult to detect. I set out about stepping up on the worn knot, the same knot I’d seen Tallulah use to get a foothold up the side of the ancient oak one afternoon. I liked spying on her. I wanted to move like her, laugh like her, be like her.

  And now I would die like her. Perhaps then Percy would understand the depths of my love. Perhaps with this one act I could take her place, finally take her place, as I had tried to in life. So let it be in death. Without fear I climbed higher until I reached the branch. It took me a while to get the noose tied correctly. It wasn’t a very good noose, but it would have to do. Hopefully I would die quickly and not belabor the deed with hours of strangulation or days of merciless starvation. I felt nearly starved now, and I noticed that my hands were quite pale and bony.

  I slipped the noose about my neck and thought of what words I should say to Heaven Above.

  In the end, I thought of nothing appropriate and so, very easily, I slid off the branch like a bag of salt falling to the ground.

  Chapter Twelve – Rachel

  My apartment was where the garage used to be, so I heard Carrie Jo’s vehicle before she ever made it to the front bell. I was kind of glad I could beat her there because Gran had decided to update the doorbell yesterday. Instead of the gentle dinging we’d heard for umpteen years, it was now an annoying buzzer that surely made visitors think they were on a cheap game show. She also installed a wireless security system, set cameras around the perimeter of the house and purchased all three of us one of those goofy alert necklaces. If you saw a “threat” you could hit the button, then an alarm would go off and the cops would come. My old room, which Gran intended to transform into her art studio, was now security central. I tried to tell her she was overreacting; it was silly to spend her pension on this stuff, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. I gave up.