Dawn at Emberwilde (34 page)

“Then I think you made the right decision,” responded Mary, looping her arm through Isabel's. “And selfishly, I am glad.”

Isabel smiled. “I am too. At least I will not be married to a man I do not love.”

“Well, perhaps your time at Emberwilde was not meant to be your great adventure. I wonder what will be.”

Isabel wished she could share her friend's optimism. “I think my time of adventure is over.”

“Oh, I don't know about that. The important thing to remember is that no experience is ever wasted. It is being used to fashion you into the person you are meant to be, and to move you to the place where you are supposed to go.”

“Be that as it may, what comes next frightens me.” Isabel looked toward the neighboring trees, which reminded her so much of the Emberwilde Forest. A strange, unexpected pang of homesickness struck her. “Mr. Langsby said that there is a governess position open just to the north of London, and he has recommended me for it. He is waiting to hear back from the household. If they accept me, I fear I will have no choice but to go, and if I do, Lizzie will have to stay here. Being apart from her is my worst fear.”

Mary's steps slowed. “That does seem so far away.”

“Now there is nothing to do but wait.”

Regret began to wind its way into her heart, and Isabel squeezed her eyes shut to keep the dread at bay. She had to accept the consequences of her decision, for there could be no turning back.

Colin rode to Emberwilde. Miss Creston needed to know the truth. It could not wait another day, and he would make sure she knew.

He handed Sampson to one of the stable boys who came around as he approached, and with determination he mounted the stone steps to the front entrance. This was not a visit for which he would take the tradesmen's entrance, for he was not here for Ellison. No, he was here for another person entirely.

Mrs. Ellison must have seen him approach. She was in the foyer before he could even hand his hat to the footman waiting to receive it.

“Mr. Galloway,” she said, surprise draining her already pale complexion of color. “What are you doing here? If it is Mr. Ellison you seek, you should find him in his study, like always.”

“I am not here for Mr. Ellison,” he stated. “Is Miss Creston at home?”

Her hand flew to her neck. “Why, the nerve, calling so openly on a young lady! You should be ashamed.”

Colin did not even flinch. He'd expected to receive at least a handful of attacks on his character. This was nothing new. “This is not a social call, Mrs. Ellison. I need to speak with Miss Creston on a legal matter.”

Mrs. Ellison lowered her hand and drew a deep breath. Could it be that she was summoning courage? For a moment, her gray eyebrows drew together in concern, but the expression quickly passed, and she thrust her chin into the air. “She is not here.”

Her response caught him off guard. “What do you mean, she is not here?”

Mrs. Ellison toyed with the long chain about her neck. “She and her sister have returned to Fellsworth. It seems she was not suited for life at Emberwilde.”

Colin was not sure he could believe what he had just heard. The muscles in his jaw began to tense. “Fellsworth? Why would she be at Fellsworth?”

Mrs. Ellison's lips formed a hard line before she opened her mouth to speak. “You might as well know. No doubt everyone will know soon enough. Miss Creston has disrespected our family in the vilest of manner. She is no longer welcome in our home.”

Colin could only stare at Mrs. Ellison for several seconds as her words took hold in his mind. Anger crept in, slowly choking out disbelief. “No longer welcome? Why? What has she done?”

Mrs. Ellison raised her eyebrows, as if to suggest that the conversation was beneath her. “I owe you no information or answers. This is a family matter.”

Colin struggled to keep his voice controlled. “Like I told you when I arrived, I am not here on a social call. I have information that needs to be discussed with her immediately.”

“And what could be so important? She is gone now, and she will not be coming back.”

“I would not be so sure on that regard. But perhaps you have not heard. Miss Creston has been named the heiress of Heddeston Park.”

Colin waited for her response. Her expression remained as stone, unflinching. Unchanging. Had she already known?

At length she spoke. “Leave it to my father to distribute our family's fortune to such an undeserving, ungrateful wench.”

Of course she would speak of her own niece so unkindly. Colin was quickly realizing the older lady's tactics. “Think of her what you will, but her character has no bearing on the situation. She has
until her twenty-first birthday to claim the property, otherwise it shall pass to you.” He watched her closely for any reaction before adding, “But I am sure you already knew of that.”

“And how would I know what was in my father's will? It was not public!”

True, old Mr. Hayworth was a private man, but in Colin's experience, family members knew where a fortune was going. “So you had no knowledge of your father's plans for the property? I know the steward has spoken with you on several occasions regarding the heir. You never thought to mention Miss Creston to him? Even after you went on a quest to find her and bring her here?”

“I hid nothing, Mr. Galloway. I knew nothing. And I owe you no answers.”

What she did not say spoke much louder than the words that came from her mouth.

“How is it that you were conveniently able to locate her before the steward even knew her name?” he demanded.

“As I have said before, my cousin wrote to me after coming into contact with a colleague of Isabel's late father. My cousin, of course, knew of the relation and made the fortunate connection.”

“That is most convenient, is it not?” Colin could not prevent accusation from coloring every word. “And when she arrived, did you not put the pieces together? Or did you plan to keep it from her, so her birthday would come and go without mention?”

“You should not speak of things that do not concern you, Mr. Galloway. Again, I did not know the details of my father's estate. My father was very secretive with his will and his intentions. I am hardly on trial here. I offered my niece kindness, and in the end she offered betrayal. If anyone is to be blamed for the current state of affairs, it is she.”

“And what constitutes betrayal?” He should stop talking. He should turn and leave. For he was no longer speaking as a magistrate
or solicitor. He was speaking as a man whose feelings were hopelessly intertwined with the situation.

He did not expect her to respond, but she did. “A match was made for her. She encouraged a gentleman's affections and then refused his offer. That sort of loose behavior is not to be borne, especially under my roof.”

“Ah. I see.” The pieces were becoming very clear. Colin began to pace. “The gentleman you speak of—that is, of course, Mr. Bradford?”

“Who else?” Her round face was growing red now, and the area around her eyes was turning pink. “She made him believe she had affection for him, and he proposed, and she denied him. I cannot have a woman with such questionable morals in my house.”

“And that would be most convenient, would it not?”

“What does that mean?”

“Even if the connections were made, and Miss Creston did inherit, the property and all of its resources would undoubtedly slip into her husband's control. And Mr. Bradford is an ally of yours, is he not? Having him in control of Heddeston Park would be the next best thing to controlling it yourself.”

He'd stepped too far, and yet everything was making sense, falling into place like a completed puzzle.

Her jaw trembled. “You need to leave now.”

The volume of his voice rose as his confidence increased. “I will leave, Mrs. Ellison, but rest assured, I have full intentions of informing Miss Creston of her inheritance. I cannot stand by and watch an innocent young woman be taken advantage of and deceived in such a manner.”

He turned to leave, but the high pitch of her voice stopped him. “You are fooling no one, Mr. Galloway. You speak of acting nobly, and yet are your own intentions truly honorable? My niece will be quite the catch once her fortune is made known. I have no
doubt you see your opportunity to marry for money to right your own estate. You should be ashamed of yourself, and I would, quite honestly, expect no less.”

Colin knew she was looking for any opportunity to take the focus off herself. He would not play that game. He bowed a low, formal bow. “Good day, Mrs. Ellison.”

He spun to leave, and as he did, he caught sight of Mr. Ellison standing in the corridor that led back to his study. His graying head was stooped, his posture sagged, but his eyes were fixed firmly on Colin.

Colin wondered how long the man had been listening. “I did not see you there, Ellison.”

Mrs. Ellison chimed in cold tones, “Mr. Galloway was just leaving.”

Ellison ignored his wife and nodded toward the door. “I will see you out.”

Mrs. Ellison huffed as they were leaving, but Colin did not care. Anger pumped through him, fueling his demand for justice. He did not want to speak anymore to an Ellison; he had heard enough. But as they stepped into the cool of the morning, the older man's words were soft and controlled.

“I know what you are thinking, Galloway. I would be thinking the same thing.”

Colin doubted very much that Ellison knew what he was thinking. “And that is?”

“You are thinking that I had some part in this.”

The men stepped down onto the lawn, where the dew still clung to the grass.

“And would I be right?” Colin challenged.

The farther they stepped away from the house, the more Ellison had to say. “I heard a great deal of what you said to my wife, son. It is no secret that Emberwilde is in trouble. Adding funds such as
what Heddeston Park would afford to us would certainly help set us to right. But you must know that I had no part in it. Truth be told, I returned home from visiting a tenant to find my nieces out of the house. But what can be done? My financial burdens at present are so heavy that I cannot pretend it is not a positive thing. Did I not even try to convince you to consider marriage? I had no idea my wife would take things this far.”

To Colin, Ellison's explanation seemed thin and weak. “It is not too late to set things right.”

“No, it is not. I heard you say that you will travel to Fellsworth to inform Isabel personally.”

“I will.”

“Then travel with my blessing. Not that you need it.”

The men fell silent as they walked the familiar path. Colin wanted to believe Ellison. The man had been almost like a father to him since his uncle passed. He had taught him a great deal about managing an estate, information he would find beneficial in the coming months as he turned his sights more fully to transforming his own property. But money—and want or need of it—could cause men to act out of character.

Colin did, in this instance, feel a bit sorry for the older man. More than likely he was telling the truth. 'Twas no secret Mrs. Ellison had the propensity to act selfishly. How many times had she acted thus when making marriage arrangements for her daughters? And would she not act in the same manner to secure her own future?

But Colin's questions and concerns loomed. There was another matter to discuss. “And Bradford? What say you on that account?”

At the mention of Bradford's name, Ellison looked toward the sky. “Bradford is an eager pup, perhaps a bit too eager. He has my wife's ear, and for good reason. Without our support, I am not sure what would happen to the foundling home. It is the one
charitable institution we have been unwilling to cease supporting. Mr. Bradford is a savvy man. He knows where his opportunities lie; he always has. Perhaps his intentions toward my niece were honest, but more than likely my wife had designs to keep her close, and away from a union with someone outside of her control. The irony of that situation is that, in light of recent circumstances, if Bradford were to marry Isabel and gain Heddeston Park's assets, he would be much better off than we are at Emberwilde. He would not need us anymore.” Ellison shrugged. “I cannot pretend to understand this mess fully.”

“There's hardly time to plan a wedding in advance of Miss Creston's birthday,” Colin said.

“True. So perhaps Bradford was merely a convenient distraction. But as it stands, the future of the foundling home is in jeopardy, for I have had a letter just yesterday from someone interested in buying the building. It has access to the main road and is closely situated to town. As much as I would hate to break up the property, I may have to sell it.”

Such news was upsetting but hardly unexpected.

“Well, Henry and I are to meet with the solicitor one last time to get all of the paperwork in order and ready, and then I will travel to Fellsworth as soon as possible to inform Miss Creston. I understand she will turn twenty-one years of age shortly, so time is a factor.”