Riverbreeze: Part 2 (6 page)

The dogs started barking like crazy, heading for the open doorway and Elizabeth tried to calm them while simultaneously trying to hear what Robert had said.

He looked fierce and her eyes opened wide at what he was wearing. He had changed into unusual clothing that she had never seen anyone wear before; buff-colored, long trousers and a buff-colored, long-sleeved shirt of some sturdy-looking material. He was also wearing moccasins on his feet; they almost looked identical to the ones Owasewas was wearing. And that’s when she realized the clothes were made from deer hides, just like the moccasins. With his big hunting knife strapped around his waist, he looked quite savage.

“Shut those dogs up!” He snapped.

“I’m sorry.” She said, reining in the dogs. They finally settled down, looking curiously towards the three men. “I’m sorry, what did you say before?”

“I said, what the hell were you two doing?” He glared pointedly at both her and Owasewas.

She bristled at his tone and was about to talk back, but Owasewas beat her to it. “She wife?” He asked sharply, glaring right back at Robert with his piercing black eyes.

“Yes, Owasewas, she is my wife.” Robert answered, emphasizing each word. He continued to stare at the Indian as if sending a message.

She watched them in silence, wondering what was going on between them. It was clear that there was something not being said, something not for her ears, but deciding it was none of her business and not worth probing into at this time, she broke the tension between them by asking Robert, “Why are you dressed like that?”

It seemed to take a few seconds before Robert realized she had spoken to him. He slowly broke contact with Owasewas and turned to her. “I have to leave for a while and I need you inside. Nathan will take the dogs to the small house.”

Disappointment bloomed on her face. “You have to leave!” She cried. “We just arrived; today is our first day of marriage. And why can’t I bring the dogs into the house?”

“Elizabeth!” He said sternly. “Do not argue with me. Come inside. Now!”

That got her attention. Something serious must have happened.

She studied his face. As much as she wanted to argue with him about the dogs, she decided this would not be a good time to do that. He had already saved the life of one of them; she couldn’t ask him to accommodate them further. And they weren’t going to be left outside or left with a stranger. She started to mount the steps when she remembered Owasewas. “Aren’t you going to invite Owas…?” Her voice trailed away embarrassingly as she felt like she couldn’t pronounce his name properly.

But Robert didn’t need to hear the rest of her question. “No, I’m not.” He answered matter-of-factly. “He won’t come in the house anyway.”

“What? That’s nonsense!” She exclaimed. “He’ll come inside if I invite him, won’t you.” She turned to Owasewas and even though he had a frightened look in his eye, she went up to him and grabbed his hand. She started to pull him with her to the steps.

Owasewas tried to resist, shaking his head slightly. He looked to Robert for help and Robert finally said. “Elizabeth, stop. He won’t come in the house because he doesn’t feel comfortable. Just let him stay outside.”

Elizabeth stopped, staring at Robert, then at Owasewas. She couldn’t imagine why the savage would feel uncomfortable in this house. It was a beautiful house. She hadn’t seen the inside yet, but didn’t think it was repugnant or anything.

“I stay outside.” Owasewas said apologetically.

“Oh.” She said, disappointed. “Well, if you’re more comfortable out here…”

He nodded once or twice.

“All right.” She capitulated, dropping his hand.

There was a moment of awkward maneuvering as Nathan and Dolnick exited the house so that Nathan could take the dogs and Dolnick could retrieve the cargo from the boat and Elizabeth entered the house.

Once the door was shut behind them, Robert took Elizabeth’s cloak and hung it on a peg on the wall. She took that time to look around. She was pleasantly impressed. The hallway was a good ten feet wide and it cut straight through the house to the back door. The walls were plastered and finished below with pine wainscot in a natural tone. Several paces in front of her was the paneled staircase going up to the second floor, but before that on the left was the doorway into the kitchen. On the right was the doorway to the parlor.

Looking into the room, she was instantly drawn in, and she stepped through the door as if in a daze. She took only one more step and stopped so that the open door blocked her view to her left, but even so the scene before her was all so eerie. She recognized the entire room from her dream, the large, open fireplace on the opposite wall with the Delft tiles surrounding it, the deep-set windows on either side of the fireplace, the plank floors and the smoothly plastered walls. The ceilings in this room and the hallway were smooth plaster also and a bright white. There was very little furniture which was different from her dream. Now there was only one gate-leg table, one desk, one chair and two stools. And very simple linen curtains hung at the windows.

Robert walked in and clasped her shoulders from behind. She could feel the warmth of his hands through the fabric of her bodice and she leaned into him for a moment, savoring the feel of his solidness against her back. But then, excitement filled her and she spun around and put her arms around his waist, smiling up at him. “I recognize it.” She whispered in delight. “I recognize this room!”

“Shh…” He immediately shushed her with a finger on her lips.

“Why?” She asked, frowning in bewilderment. There wasn’t anyone who could hear her. She was really becoming annoyed with his behavior.

“There is someone I need to introduce you to and…”

“Who?” She asked quickly, looking around the room, including the back wall behind the door. When she caught sight of the woman on the cot, she hesitated. “Oh.” She mouthed. Was this Mrs. Chilcott, the woman Robert had told her about? The woman who had lived with them for the past two years as Robin’s wet-nurse? What was wrong with her? Why was she in bed in the middle of the day? Elizabeth couldn’t see her face because she was lying on her side with her back to the room.

“Come.” Robert said softly. He gently put his arm around her waist and guided her to Abigail’s bedside. When they were standing beside the cot, Robert reached out, touched her shoulder and called out to her.

Abigail cringed as if Robert had hit her. She whimpered a little; and Elizabeth frowned deeper, looking to Robert for an explanation.

Robert withdrew his hand. In his gentlest voice, he said, “Abby, I’m not going to hurt you. There’s somebody here that I want you to meet. Her name is Elizabeth and she’s my wife. She’ll take care of you…”

Suddenly the front door banged open, causing everyone to jump. Abigail huddled further under the blanket, shaking. Then there were some heavy footsteps, some cursing and then the door closing again. Finally clomping up the stairs as Dolnick carried the first of the three trunks up to the second floor. Robert and Elizabeth stood in silence until Dolnick exited the house again to get the second trunk.

Robert realized he wasn’t going to get any response out of Abby. She was just too afraid of men right now, even now. He took Elizabeth to the doorway and stopped there. Taking a hold of her shoulders, he said, “She’s been raped, Elizabeth…”

Elizabeth gasped. Raped!

“…and I would appreciate it so much if you could help her with whatever she needs. Unfortunately I have to leave for a while…I know and I’m sorry.” He added when her face crumpled. “If I could handle this any other way I would; I hate the thought of leaving you here alone after what has happened to Abby, but my servant has run away and I have to alert my neighbors so that they can spread the word to their neighbors. I hope I won’t be too long and I’ve already spoken to Nathan and Dolnick about looking out for anyone suspicious and about guarding the house. I’ve also instructed them to stay close to you and Evelyn if any man does come to the house. Nathan will be at the small house if you need anything and Dolnick is bringing in the rest of the trunks. And you or Evelyn shouldn’t have to worry about Jamie. He’s sleeping and he’ll probably sleep through tomorrow morning. So will you take care of Abby for me?”

She nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything.
Abigail had been raped! His servant had run away! And he was leaving her to take care of this woman who she had never met?
But at least he had spoken to the servants about guarding the house and she wouldn’t have to worry about the rapist if he came back.

Robert kissed her quickly on the lips. “Thank you.” He said. “I shall be back as soon as I can.” And in a flash he was gone.

Elizabeth stood frozen for a few minutes, unsure of herself, but then her gaze went to the poor woman huddled on the cot. She went over to her, knelt down and placed her hand on Abigail’s shoulder as Robert had done and said, “I’m here, Abigail, if you need anything.”

Abigail didn’t cringe this time, feeling the light, feminine touch on her shoulder and hearing the soft, feminine voice. She turned slowly onto her back and looked up at Elizabeth. Her eyes widened. “You are Robert’s wife?” She whispered.

Elizabeth nodded, feeling uneasy all of a sudden. “Yes.” She answered anyway.

“You’re beautiful.” Abigail whispered, reaching for Elizabeth’s hand.

Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. She certainly hadn’t expected a woman who had just been raped to notice her looks. When Abigail took Elizabeth’s hand into hers, Elizabeth had the strangest feeling. It was almost as if this woman were admiring her like her suitors used to back in London.

No
, Elizabeth scoffed to herself.
That’s ridiculous. I’m imagining things.

“Stay with me, please, Elizabeth.” Abigail said, holding on to Elizabeth’s hand as if her life depended on it. “You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

Chapter Eighteen: Rabbit Stew

Elizabeth stared at the huge fireplace in the kitchen, wondering how she was ever going to start a fire in order to heat water for Abigail to wash with. She had never learned how to build a proper fire, or start one, or maintain one. Servants had always taken care of that and while she had watched them at times, she had never done it herself.

But really, how hard could it be?

She looked around as if she could find the answer in her surroundings, but all she saw was a plain room with two windows, three doorways, two leading to the hall and one leading outside, plastered walls, a wide-plank floor and a large board table and benches in the middle of the space. There was also a side board on the wall opposite the fireplace which held several candle sticks and a tin candle box, crockery bowls and platters, a single wine bottle, pewter plates, cups and other cooking utensils. In the corner beside the fireplace were several kegs and barrels, one of them was an open barrel which was nearly filled to the top with water, and above the fireplace hung a drying rack with various herbs. When she espied an apron hanging on a nail she decided to put it on. Now she was ready, but she still didn’t know what to do first.

A sudden chill shook her body and she rubbed her arms. It was damp and cold in the house without any fires to warm the space and with evening approaching the house would quickly turn even colder still.

She should call one of the servants to light fires in all the rooms, but they already had their tasks and her own pride prevented her from doing that. This morning she had vowed to be a good wife to Robert and that included honoring his request to take care of Abigail. She wanted to prove to him that she could do whatever he asked of her.

But behind all these brave thoughts, she was still only a seventeen-year-old girl who had a lot of growing up to do.

Evie, help me! Please
! She sent a silent plea to her twin. There were times when they could actually communicate through their minds and as she had hoped, she soon heard light footsteps on the stairs.

Quickly, she ran to the foot of the staircase to meet her sister.

“What’s wrong?” Evelyn asked as she stepped off the last tread. She had wrapped an olive-colored, woolen shawl around her shoulders—Elizabeth recognized it immediately—one she had gotten out of the first trunk that Dolnick had brought upstairs.