Sliding her hands free again, she turned from him. His soft words had done more to disarm her than any of the fear she had suffered from, and her tears flowed silently down her face. She knew that, in her present state of mind, if she looked at him, she would lose what little composure she had. “You’ve been so kind, and you’ve been more than a friend,” she admitted quietly. “I appreciate your words more than I can ever say.”
Still sensing the wall that she had forced up between them, he took her by the shoulders and turned her gently around. “Katherine, I know what kind of life you’ve had up until now.” Her questioning look made him admit the truth. “I asked Earnan to tell me what he knew about your childhood and your mother. No,” he raised her chin so that her eyes would meet his, “you have nothing to be ashamed of. It was all Robert Craig. I hope he was shriven before he met the Lord for he had much to atone for. I know you’re upset about being here and remembering how things were between your mother and your father. But don’t let the darkness of your father’s actions color your perception of what a relationship… a marriage… can be really like. It’s a wonderful thing between those who love each other.”
His tender smile broke through the granite that had encased her heart for so long. Could there really be such love, she wondered. Dare she hope so? Yes, she decided as she took in the warmth of his touch and the sincerity of his words. Taking his pro-offered handkerchief, she dried her eyes and wondered if she could really be loved and, in return, could love another.
Chapter Twelve
It seemed strange for May-Jewel to be alone though she welcomed the solitude. Being at Wistmere had brought so much of the past to the surface of her mind. Most were pleasant remembrances divulged during lighter moments with Katherine. But lately sifting through the fog of time came bits and pieces of the memory of her mother’s death. Suddenly while strolling alone, she felt she could finally face the long suppressed reality of that event. There lay in her heart deeply buried guilt alongside her sorrow, guilt of youthful decisions, advice not taken, orders not complied with.
As May-Jewel wandered on toward the garden, her heart begged her mind to take some blame in dealing with the tragedy of Angelique’s demise. For if May-Jewel had been there, if she had left Boston and joined her mother and aunt, perhaps her being there would have changed the frightful events. A simple summons to come to Florida for the Easter week was ignored as the annual spring ball in Boston couldn’t be missed. It was the beginning of the social season. Finally being of the age to attend such an affair, May-Jewel was determined not to miss it, and she thought Angelique’s anger over such a “disobedient daughter” would pass by summer and all would be right between them.
Remorse fully enveloped May-Jewel as her gaze lowered from the sky to the crushed grass beneath her feet. The letter from her Aunt Constance loomed before her mind. She had memorized every word written half in tears, half in ink. The words still burned in her heart. It started:
My Dear Little Jewel,
It grieves me to tell you that a fire has ravaged my home and has taken from this world your dear Mother, my sweetest sister. I can’t tell you in this communication how deeply saddened I am. We must bury your Mother before you can arrive, but please hurry down to me as I suffer greatly from this loss.
I send on to you your great-grandmother’s gold necklace that your Mother meant for you to have. Write me of your arrangements concerning your travel here.
Affectionately,
Aunt Constance
Angelique’s gold necklace lay cold around May-Jewel’s neck. She ran her fingers over its delicate surface. She had made a bad decision, but wasn’t that what youth was for? And now she realized that there wasn’t anything she could have done even if she had been there. Aunt Constance’s description of the tragedy left little for May-Jewel to contend with because even the men on the estate hadn’t been able to save her mother. What could a young girl have done? May-Jewel let a healing flood of tears begin to free her from the feelings of guilt. The release was long overdue. She knew that she might never get over the death of her mother, but at least now she could remember her without such deep self-condemnation.
The afternoon sun smothered the countryside with warmth. May-Jewel was drawn to the shade of the gazebo’s tilted vine-covered roof. With Alex staying out of her sight, it was easy for her thoughts now to dwell on Jeremy. She wondered what he was doing. Did he miss her? Did he even think of her? May-Jewel looked up and was surprised to see Katherine moving toward her.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” her sister said as she entered the gazebo and sat down next to her. “I have so much to tell you.”
May-Jewel listened with great interest as Katherine related all that had transpired between her and Garth, and her run to the manse. Katherine withheld, however, the intimate conversation with the vicar.
“But,” May-Jewel questioned, “didn’t Garth ever get around to telling you who Selina is?”
“Well, it’s obvious who she is
