Always (17 page)

The wind picked up slightly, making me clutch my own shawl tighter around my shoulders. Maybe I wouldn’t be going to see Aunt Dora today.

The door shut with a loud bang behind me. I scurried over to the fire and rubbed my hands briskly together to get them warmed back up.

My mind traveled back over the conversation I had with Sylvia that afternoon. London? Was I really going to see London soon?

I would miss Aunt Dora and Uncle Philip. I would even miss the good people of Hamel. Who would ride Clover while I was away? But Sylvia had said we would only be gone for a few months.

My lips curved up into a soft smile. Maybe I would go visit with Aunt Dora today. She would be excited to hear my good news. With an excited skip, I straightened my wrap and went out into the crisp air.

The walk to Aunt Dora and Uncle Philip’s seemed to take longer than ever as I trudged along the dirt path. They didn’t live far out of the town of Hamel, but without a horse, it seemed much further.

When I finally reached the gate, I had to stop to wipe the sweat from my brow. “Whew,” I sighed audibly.

“
Hey there, Claudia,” Uncle Philip called with a wave.

I unlatched the familiar gate and rushed into his open arms. “Good afternoon, Uncle.”

“
Did you walk all the way here?” He looked behind me as if hoping for a carriage to appear.

“
Yeah,” I puffed out my cheeks, still worn out from my excursion. “It wasn’t too far.”

“
It’s getting awful cold for a young lady to be out walking such a distance,” he reprimanded.

I smiled fondly at his concern. It didn’t matter to Uncle Philip that I was a married woman, he would always be concerned about my well-being and safety. “It wasn’t far,” I said again.

“
Well, come on inside with you,” he waved me forward, “Your aunt will be pleased to see you again.”

“
It’s only been a few days; surely she hasn’t had time to miss me yet.”

“
Of course she has,” he chuckled.

I intertwined my arm in his offered one and let him lead me up to the house. As we passed by the barn, I longed to go inside and say hello to Clover
.
Maybe before I go
back home
, I thought to myself.
For sure before I leave
.

Uncle Philip patted my hand affectionately and I leaned into his once broad
shoulder.

As soon as the parlor door opened, I saw Aunt Dora’s smiling face. “I was hoping you’d stop by today,” she gushed.

“
For a particular reason, or did you just miss me?” I teased.

“
Oh, my,” she looked up and seemed to see me for the first time. “You look so peaked, child. Your cheeks are so red. Are you ill?”

“
She walked all the way over here,” Uncle Philip spoke up from behind me.

“
It wasn’t that far,” I mumbled.

“
Don’t you have a horse?”

I shook my head. “The stables aren’t ready for a horse,” I admitted. “Marcus says we will soon, though.”

“
Come on and sit down,” she patted the seat next to her. “I’ll show you what I found today.”

“
What is it?” I tried to peek around her to see what she was hiding behind her back, but I couldn’t see anything.

“
This,” she pulled out my discarded needlepoint of the half-finished rose.

A huge smile broke out on my face. “I hate needlepoint,” I admitted with a laugh.

“
But, Claudia, it’s such a beautiful piece.” She held up the awful material. The rose was so lopsided that if I didn’t know what it was supposed to be, I couldn’t have guessed. We both burst into a fit of giggles.

“
You always did prefer to be on that horse of yours,” she admitted with another laugh.

“
You know…,” I began, but I was cut off by a loud noise in the hall.

The door suddenly burst open and I was surprised to see Marcus striding in. Becky followed close behind, agitation clear on her face. When he stopped suddenly, she ran into him with a soft “Oph!”

“
Mrs. Sinclair,” he greeted Aunt Dora without even acknowledging poor Becky.

“
Hello, dear, what a surprise,” she beamed at him. “Becky, will you go and fetch a cup for Mr. Letrell?”

“
No,” he put his hand out to stop her, “we don’t have time to stay for tea.”

I glanced quickly at Aunt Dora. Her face fell with her disappointment. “Oh, that’s too bad.”

“
Claudia, are you ready to go?” He turned impatiently to me.

“
I was having tea with my aunt. Couldn’t you please join us?”

He hesitated, obviously torn between wanting to go and not wanting to hurt Aunt Dora’s feelings. He ran a heavy hand roughly across his face.

“
Only for a moment,” he conceded.

He perched on the edge of a nearby seat, ready to bolt at the lightest moment. I couldn’t understand what had him so tense. Had he argued with David?

I longed to ask him if everything was alright, but I only smiled reassuringly in his direction.

“
Aunt Dora and I were just discussing my old mare, Clover.” I raised my cup to my lips.

“
A horse?” he asked harshly.

I gasped at his tone, inhaling a large amount of tea in the process. I jerked the cup away from my mouth, only managing to spill some on my skirt. I gingerly touched the burn on my lip and looked over at Marcus.

“
Yes, a horse,” I said in clipped tones. “I’ve had Clover since we moved here.” Maybe now he would realize how much the horse meant to me.

“
Mmm,” he nodded, but I could clearly see that he didn’t much care about Clover.

I tried to smile at Aunt Dora so she wouldn’t think we were having problems already, but it didn’t reach my eyes. She nodded, uncomfortable with the obvious tension between us.

“
Will you two stay for supper?” she offered.

“
Um…” I looked to Marcus, who still seemed preoccupied.

“
No,” he suddenly snapped. “We’re not staying.”

“
Oh,” her disappointment was clear. “Do you have prior engagements?”

“
We have to leave.”

“
Marcus,” I whispered sharply.

“
I mean we have to leave Hamel.”

“
What?”

“
Tonight.”

“
Where are we going?” I was shocked by his declaration. We were leaving? Why was he saying that? Was it only because he didn’t want to stay for supper? It would be nice to eat again with Aunt Dora and Uncle Philip. What was wrong with Marcus?

“
We are leaving for London–tonight.” He stood up abruptly.

“
It’s just…he doesn’t mean…” I looked helplessly from Marcus to my aunt. She looked as confused as I felt. Marcus, however, only looked determined. “We’re not going anywhere. Don’t worry, Aunt Dora.”

“
Claudia,” Marcus reached for my hand and I automatically stood up to join him.

“
We’re leaving tonight?” I asked softly.

“
Sooner than that,” he acknowledged. “There is nothing to be done for it.”

“
When will we return?”

He hesitated, his face drawn down with anguish. “I’m not sure.”

“
You’ve always wanted to go to London, dear,” Aunt Dora tried to be helpful.

“
Not like this.” I kept my eyes only on Marcus.

“
We have to go now. Say your goodbyes.” He went on ahead of me so I could have a moment alone with Aunt Dora.

She pulled me tight to her chest for a long moment. “I always knew this day would come.” She brushed the tears off my face with a loving hand. “You were just too beautiful to be kept hidden away in a place like Hamel.”

“
I’ll be back soon.”

“
Your place now is with your husband, no matter where he may lead you.”

“
I’ll miss you,” my voice broke.

“
We’ve enjoyed having you here, Claudia. Your uncle and I never had children of our own.” She brushed a stray curl away from my forehead. “So much like your mother,” she murmured.

“
Aunt Dora…”

“
You best go now, dear,” she pushed me gently away from her. “Your husband is waiting for you.”

Chapter
Nineteen

He practically dragged me to the carriage after we left Aunt Dora’s, and we were barreling down the road before I had time to be properly seated. Then, when we arrived home, he hadn’t even tried to help me from the carriage, choosing instead to pick me up and place me on the ground.

I couldn’t help the small scream that escaped my lips as I was flying through the air. “Marcus,” I squeaked, “What is wrong with you?”

“
Nothing, I…” He ran his hand through his hair, “we just have to go.”

He pulled me close to his chest, long enough for me to feel the heat of his body. “I just don’t understand why we have to be in such a hurry,” I said into his broad chest.

He put his thumb under my chin to tilt it up to his face. “Maybe one day you will understand, Claudia. If that day ever comes, I hope you will still be able to love me.”

His eyes were so broken, so full of unhappiness, that impulsively, I wrapped my arms as tightly as I could around his waist. “I will always love you, Marcus; always, no matter what.”

He returned my embrace, but all too soon he was pushing me away again. “Let’s go,” he ordered harshly.

He grabbed my upper arm roughly and started towards the door. I gritted my teeth together angrily and pulled my arm away from him. He looked back, a look of annoyance darkening his handsome features.

“
I’m not going,” I crossed my arms angrily.

“
What do you mean you’re not going?” He barely even turned to look at me as he ushered me down the path to the front door of our cozy home.

“
You can’t just make a decision like that without even talking to me about it first.” My face was still puckered with hurt and irritation.

“
We’re going to London,” his tone was so final, “today.” He grabbed tightly to my arm and led me briskly forward.

“
Marcus!”

I dug my heels into the ground and refused to be pulled any further. Aunt Dora had been so shocked at his sudden announcement. We had been so happy here. Why did he want to leave?

“
Why do we have to leave?” I asked loudly.

“
Because I said we have to leave!” he yelled back.

“
I…” my mouth fell open. He had never been so rude to me.

“
You what?” He looked down at me, his eyes wide with anger.

“
I don’t want to go to London,” I stomped my foot like a child.

“
Too bad.”

“
I like it here.”

“
You’ll love London, too.” He started walking again towards the house that we were leaving, not even waiting to see if I would follow.

“
Marcus!” I took a few steps after him, but stopped on the path.

He couldn’t force me to leave our little sanctuary. I ground the back of my teeth together in frustration. What had happened to him? Just this morning we had been happy and content to stay here forever. Why was he ruining everything?

I didn’t hear any sounds of someone approaching, but suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder. I screamed and whirled around.

Sylvia stood there with an excited smile; beside her, David’s smile was more apologetic. He went past me quickly, already talking to Marcus before he got inside.

“
We’ll need to go ready the carriage,” he called.

Marcus was there beside him in a flash of movement. How had he gotten there so fast? “Why didn’t you do that before you left?” he demanded.

“
You told us to hurry,” he answered calmly.