Chapter 10
William made sure that everything was accounted for at his estate before he left to receive his mother at the train station. The house was spic and span, he checked that Elizabeth was appropriately dressed, went over how she was to behave when Anne arrived which earned him several scowls but he’d been so afraid of how his mother would react that he wanted everything to go flawlessly. She’d huffed and pouted and threatened to stay in her room “if her behavior was that appalling” and after he’d kissed and soothed and winked at her, she finally understood how important it was that she make a good impression. Even though in his eyes everything about Elizabeth was perfect, he knew better than to think his mother would feel the same way.
One thing that had been troubling him amid the many worries he already had was the incessant giggling among his maids when he awoke that morning. They’d blushed and cooed his name and it was only after Elizabeth pointed it out that he realized something dreadful. His maids had heard him cry out in the heat of passion the night before. As embarrassing as that was, and God, he’d just about died, the fear that they might tell his mother or that she’d somehow overhear their gossiping was far worse. And if that should happen, Lord have mercy on his soul.
As it was, William was in quite a state of nerves and his worry increased tenfold when his mother and uncle, who’d escorted Anne from Essex to London, emerged from the train.
“Hello, Mother,” William said warmly and embraced her after bowing in his uncle’s direction.
“William,” she said excitedly, “you will not believe the wonderful time I’ve had with Mary and Mr. Browning!”
“She and Mary spent a good deal of time in the parlor,” Mr. Browning chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll have all sorts of gossip for you on the journey home.”
Anne waved her hand dismissively in her brother-in-law’s direction and smiled at her son, grabbing him by the arms and inspecting him. “You look taller.”
William laughed. “I am sure I haven’t grown in the two weeks you’ve been away.”
She adjusted the shawl around her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Something is different about you. Oh, well. No matter. It’s probably my old age playing tricks on me.”
“I’m sure it is,” William smiled and the three walked towards his coach as his servants loaded her luggage from the train. “I hope you aren’t very tired.”
“Actually, I’m feeling quite energetic, William. Why? Did you have a big day planned for your mother?” she smiled beatifically and William cleared his throat.
“N-not exactly. We’ll discuss it after we send Mr. Browning off to his lodging and return home. Mr. Browning,” he turned to his uncle, “are you certain you won’t stay with us?”
“It’s very kind of you to offer, Mr. Pratt, but I’m afraid I need a few days in a pub to regroup after all that cackling,” he chuckled.
“Very well then,” he smiled and the three of them stepped inside the coach and left the train station.
* * *
“Oh, and the music, William! It was breathtaking!”
“I’m pleased you had such a nice trip,” William smiled, helping his mother with her shawl as they entered the estate, feeling his stomach turn as they stood in the foyer when he saw Elizabeth staring at him expectantly. Anne hadn’t noticed her and walked to the parlor, prattling on about her exciting holiday in Essex. He smiled shakily at Elizabeth and gestured that she should follow him after his mother.
“And her garden is beautiful! We’ll have to plant some lavender right away! I’ve grown accustomed to the smell. And—”
“Mother,” he interrupted and stepped to the side to reveal Elizabeth who was fidgeting nervously in the doorway. “I’d like for you to meet someone.”
Anne paled and pressed a delicate hand to her clavicle. “How embarrassing! William, why didn’t you tell me we had a guest?” She blinked rapidly and walked over to them and smiled warmly, then gently kicked her son on his shoe to remind him of his manners.
“Oh! Yes, I’m sorry. Mother, this is Miss Elizabeth. Miss Elizabeth, I’d like you to meet my mother, Mrs. Pratt.”
Elizabeth reminded herself not to stick out her hand. When she and William practiced their greeting he almost fainted when she tried to shake his hand. Apparently, that was incredibly impolite. She curtsied slightly and bowed her head and William smiled proudly that she remembered. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Pratt.”
“Likewise,” she said with a tight smile and muttered to her son through her smile, “And who is this?”
“Well, um,” he cleared his throat, “p-perhaps you should take a seat and I’ll explain.”
Anne eyed the strange woman curiously and nodded, and then she walked towards a chaise and sat down. Elizabeth started walking into the room and quickly remembered to slow down her steps. According to William, a lady didn’t stomp and swing her arms; she was to take small gliding steps in a measured gait. Elizabeth delicately seated herself in a chair at a reasonable distance from William who had found a seat on the sofa across from his mother. She wished she could hold his hand or be near him in some way, but again, he’d warned her that any physical contact in public would have been considered vulgar, even if they were married. Whatever her past, she was grateful she’d forgotten these awful rules. Who could live under such scrutiny?
Anne narrowed her eyes, picking up on every little detail of the peculiar blonde who’d been in her home for who knew how long.
“I suppose I should start at the beginning,” William said casually, hoping that a nonchalant take on this situation would aid him in winning over his mother’s good graces. She could smell his fear like a predator. “Several days ago, I was taking Daisy for a ride as she hadn’t been ridden for quite some time and I needed the exercise. On my way back home, I found Miss Elizabeth stranded on the side of the road.”
Anne gasped. “Good heavens!”
“As it turned out, she’d been severely injured and abandoned either by her traveling party or her family. I didn’t think it would be right to leave her there.”
“Of course not,” Anne agreed. So far, her son had acted like a gentleman but she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the rest of this story.
“When I’d helped her onto the horse, I noticed she’d lost quite a bit of blood and I rushed her home and called for the doctor. He managed to bandage her up and she’s healed quite well, haven’t you, Elizabeth?”
“Y-yes, thank you, William,” she said nervously.
“What was most puzzling about the situation,” he continued, seeing his mother stirring as if she were going to interject, “was that Elizabeth couldn’t speak. She’d lost her voice either from an illness or shock, we still don’t know, but I’m happy to say she’s speaking wonderfully now,” he smiled warmly at Elizabeth and cleared his throat, looking away quickly.
“So, which was it?” Anne asked anxiously. She might be an old woman, but she was no fool. First of all, her son was referring to the girl by her first name whether he realized it or not. Secondly, she lost her voice? That was most convenient. And she saw the fond way he’d just looked at her. Oh, this woman was quite the fox!
“Which was what?”
“Was she abandoned by her traveling party or family?”
“Well,” he sent a sideways glance to Elizabeth, “that’s the interesting thing. It seems that Elizabeth is suffering a bit of amnesia.”
Anne’s lips pursed as if she’d sucked on a lemon and her eyes grew wide. “Mmhmm.”
“It’s true, Mrs. Pratt,” Elizabeth said cautiously. “I know this seems outlandish, but I have no memory of my past before your son found me that day.”
“But you know your name?”
“Her initials were engraved on her trunk and after a process of elimination, we discovered that her name was Elizabeth, though we aren’t sure of her family name.”
“Oh!” Anne yelped with her hands in the air. “Well, if it was on her trunk, by all means, it is the answer to everything!”
William sighed. “Mother, I know how this must sound, but I promise you that Elizabeth has been honest with me. And, did you hear her dialect? She’s American! Isn’t that charming?”
Anne chewed on the inside of her cheek. Charming! That was not the adjective that came to mind. “And what did the authorities say? Were there any reports of missing women? An escaped con artist, perhaps?”
William gasped in anger. “Mother!”
“Well? I know I raised you properly and I’m sure you went straight to the authorities, did you not?”
“Um, well…”
“William Nicholas Pratt!” she bellowed. “Do you mean to tell me that you haven’t alerted anyone? That the two of you have been alone together in this house, unescorted?” She was going to faint! That’s all there was to it. Her son had lost his damn mind and she was simply going to faint.
“Yes, Mother. That, uh…that is what I’m telling you.”
“Oh! Ohhh,” Anne swooned, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “Get Judith this instant!”
William jumped from his seat and called for Judith to bring Anne some water. Elizabeth squirmed in her seat, unsure if she should check on the old woman or stay put. She decided on the latter. Judith quickly entered with water and Anne gulped it down, patting her neck with a handkerchief and handed the glass back to her servant.
“Better?” William asked nervously and Anne scowled at him.
“Do you hate your mother that much that you would act so irrationally? What will everyone say about this?”
“They will say nothing, because no one knows she’s here.”
Anne lay back on the chaise and closed her eyes, biting her lip. “I would like to speak with my son alone.”
Elizabeth blinked and looked at William who nodded forlornly at her. She stood up and said quietly, “I’m sorry for causing you distress, Mrs. Pratt.”
William cut her off, afraid that if she said anymore his mother would have a fit. “Elizabeth, why don’t you wait in the library?”
“Oh, yes,” Anne laughed without a spot of humor, “let the strange woman walk the halls of my home unescorted! Send her to my room while you’re at it!”
William frowned at his mother and walked Elizabeth to the door. “Everything will be all right,” he whispered. “She’s a bit melodramatic, but I’m sure she’ll fall in love with you in time.”
Elizabeth smiled sadly and excused herself. William watched her leave and sighed, closing the door to the parlor and walked over to his mother who’d quickly closed her eyes shut and groaned. He rolled his eyes.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You’re not ill and you know it.”
Anne gasped and she sat up. “Do not take that tone of voice with me, young man.”
William paced the floor in anger. “How dare you treat a guest that way?!”
“How dare I? Are you that much of a fool, William? She’s manipulated you and you’re too blind to see it. How much longer until she packs up everything we own in the night and takes off?”
“No! It is you who are blind! Not once has she asked anything of me, not once! She’s been nothing but gracious and kind and…and I’ve grown quite fond of her.”
“Oh, William,” she shook her head in disappointment. “It was only a month ago that you were pining for Miss Underwood. Are you that easily swayed?”
“What I felt for Miss Underwood was a fraction of what I feel for Elizabeth. A-a drop in the pond! Mother, once we sort out her past, I wish…I wish to marry her.”
Anne blinked slowly and turned her head away from her son in a state of shock. “My son has gone mad.”
“Is it mad to fall in love?”
“You love her! You’ve known her just a few days and you love her?”
“I can’t explain it,” he said with a frustrated groan and paced the floor again. “I’m drawn to her, Mother. I feel as if I’ve known her for ages.” He smiled and sat down as he spoke, though it was obvious to Anne that it didn’t matter if she’d heard him. “She makes me feel alive. Like a new man. When I’m with her, it’s as if time stands still and the only thing that matters is the two of us. And she thinks I’m funny a-and handsome and she has the most amusing way of speaking. She said I was hot. Apparently, it’s a term used among Americans and I find it simply adorable.”
“This is far worse than I imagined,” she said dejectedly. “Did it ever occur to you that she might be taking advantage of you?”
“At first,” he admitted ruefully. “You have no idea what was going through my mind when I first brought her home. But I promise you that she is a good and decent woman and I’m sure you’ll agree should you take the time to get to know her. She’s kind and sweet and the servants adore her and—”
“She is not staying here, William.”
William clenched his jaw. “And where do you propose we send her, mother?”
“It is of no consequence to me! It is not my responsibility to take care of this wandering stranger!”
“Well, I’ll relieve you of the burden since you don’t have any say in the matter,” he said angrily as he stood. “Need I remind you who owns the title to these lands?”
“William,” she whispered. “You wouldn’t!”
“I would,” he said with more conviction than either was used to hearing. “Father handed it over to me when he died. I am the man of this house and she will stay here until further notice. Is that understood?”
“Are you putting your foot down, William?”
“I am putting my foot down!”
Anne stood up and glared at her son. “Are you putting your foot down?!”
“I said I was, Mother! My foot is down!”
Anne was overwhelmed with her son’s behavior. He’d finally stood up to her. After so many years of trying to mold him into a man and failing, this girl, whoever she was, had somehow managed to do the job for her in a matter of days. She inhaled deeply and held her head up high. “Very well, William. If that is your wish.” She turned away and smiled.
“It is my wish,” he said to her back, afraid she was crying when her shoulders started to tremble. “Mother,” he placed a hand on her back. It was then he realized that she wasn’t crying, she was laughing. “Mother?”
“Oh, William,” she giggled, “you were so angry!” She turned around and looked up at him with watery eyes filled with mirth.
He tilted his head to the side and cocked an eyebrow. “Are you all right?”
“Yes! How could I not be all right? I knew there was something different about you when you picked me up today. You’ve…William, you’ve become a man and I’m so proud of you.”
“You are?”
“Yes, sweetheart. You’re a good, decent man and you have such a big heart that I’m always worried that you’ll be taken advantage of.”
“Mother—”
“Let me finish. If this woman has managed to get you to grow a backbone and defend her so adamantly, she must be quite a woman indeed.”
“So, you’re all right with this?” William asked carefully, seemingly not offended by her proclamation.
“No. Well, yes and no, I should say,” she sat down again and William sat next to her on the chaise and took her hand. “I’m not pleased that you’ve been unescorted for so long and I’m still suspicious of a few things but…I’ve never seen you in this state before.”
“I’ve never felt this way before,” he said honestly with a crooked smile.
She patted his cheek. “Well, I like it.” She smiled at him and sighed before she thought it important to mention, “But you are not to be alone with her again, do you understand? Not until you’re properly engaged and we’ve settled on a dowry.”
William pursed his lips. “And what if we never find out who she is? What then?”
“Then…she…well,” she muttered. “I suppose we’ll just have to make something up. A third cousin from overseas or something.”
William sighed in relief that he’d won this argument. Even if he hadn’t, he’d have done whatever it took to keep Elizabeth by his side. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Oh, nonsense,” she giggled. “Now run along and fetch her before she worries herself to death. I’d like a moment alone with Miss Elizabeth.”
“Keep those claws retracted, Mother,” he said warningly as he walked to the doorway.
“I wouldn’t hurt a fly,” she smiled coyly.
“Mmhmm,” he cocked an eyebrow and exited, shaking his head as he heard his mother giggling to herself.
* * *
When Elizabeth entered the parlor, she felt as if she were going up against a firing squad or about to be interrogated for some crime she’d never committed. As it was, Anne was seated calmly on the same chaise she was when she’d left, cross stitch in her lap and smiling to herself.
“Mrs. Pratt, you wanted to see me?”
“Yes, dear, sit down,” she said without lifting her eyes and pulled her needle through the stretched cloth and tugged.
Elizabeth swallowed and sat across from her, clasping her hands together in her lap.
“My son has informed me that you will be staying here whether I like it or not.”
Elizabeth refrained from squealing with joy and ducked her head to hide her smile. “I see.”
“He will not be moved on the subject, no matter what I have to say. So, you can see that I am helpless to go against him.”
“Mrs. Pratt, may I speak freely?”
Anne lifted her eyes to the young girl and gave her undivided attention. “You may.”
“I know you don’t trust me, and you have every right not to. I mean, this whole thing sounds kinda weird, I know. Believe me, I know. It’s freaking me out even more than you, I promise. But I would never do anything to hurt William, at least not without knowing. You can have that in writing if you want!” she said excitedly.
Anne raised an eyebrow as she tried to suss out the words she’d uttered, making sense out of them between her strange vernacular and wild hand gestures. “Yes, well, that won’t be necessary, Miss Elizabeth.”
“It’s just that I really, really like William and I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s the nicest guy and he’s so sweet and kind. I don’t want to be a burden on anyone and if need be, I can earn my keep. I can wash dishes or sweep floors or—”
“Elizabeth,” Anne gasped, “you will do no such thing! We do not treat our guests like servants in this house.”
“I just thought—”
“And you will think of it no more.” Anne huffed and placed her hand on her chest, shaking her head. “All you have to do is treat my son with respect, obey his orders, be kind when he is sad, don’t complain when he is away, and don’t ever, ever hurt him.”
“I would never hurt him.”
“See that you don’t. My William loves with his whole heart, with his entire being and I can tell he is well on his way to ruin with you,” she laughed. “He will be loyal to a fault and I hope you don’t ever take him for granted.”
Elizabeth smiled with teary eyes. “I won’t.”
“Now that that’s settled, would you mind telling me your secret?”
“My secret?” Elizabeth grew nervous at the twinkling in Anne’s eyes. Either she was about to pounce or she was going to trick Elizabeth into a confession that might surely get both her and William in trouble.
“Yes!” she smiled happily. “What on earth did you do to my son?”
Elizabeth blushed and smiled. “Um…well,” before or after I sucked him off, she thought inwardly.
Anne froze at Elizabeth’s embarrassment. “Perhaps it’s none of my business.” She went back to her cross stitch and said, “You may go.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pratt,” she said all too quickly and hurriedly exited the parlor.