The Governess of Highland Hall (47 page)

Julia nodded and forced a smile, but she knew the future was uncertain for her parents. Dr. Hadley didn’t believe her father was strong enough to travel overseas or work in a tropical climate, and he might never be.

“Mr. and Mrs. Wilson will meet your train in Southampton.” Mother followed her to the door. “They’ll take good care of you and help you board the ship on Thursday.”

Julia nodded and looked into her mother’s eyes.

Mother lifted her hand and touched Julia’s cheek. “We love you, my dear, so very much.”

“And I love you.” She swallowed and forced out her words. “Now I must go, or I’ll miss my train.” Then she turned away before they could see her tears and hurried out the door. “Good-bye. I’ll see you soon.”

“Good-bye,” her parents called as they watched from the cottage doorway.

Their neighbor Hiram Johnson had loaded her trunk onto the back of his wagon with the help of his son. Mr. Johnson nodded to her and offered her a hand. She stepped up and took a seat on the wooden bench at the front of the wagon.

He climbed up beside her, and picked up the reins. “Ready to go, Miss Foster?”

“Yes, thank you.” Julia waved to her parents once more, then turned and faced the road, blinking away tears. The wagon lurched forward, and the morning fog swirled around them. But as they rounded the bend and came into a clearing, the sunlight broke through.

“Looks like it’ll be a nice day after all.” Mr. Johnson smiled and clicked to encourage the horses to quicken their pace.

The ride to the train station took less than ten minutes. Julia thanked Mr. Johnson as he helped her down. He and the porter wrestled the large trunk down from the back of the wagon and onto a rolling cart. The porter tagged her trunk, then set off across the platform.

She took a deep breath of cool morning air and lifted her eyes to the blue sky. Two larks swooped past, and she watched them disappear into the trees beyond the station. Slipping her hands into her coat pockets, she let her mind drift to the first day she had arrived at Highland, and a bittersweet smile formed on her lips.

Memories flooded back, and a strong yearning rose in her heart. How she wished she could see Katherine enjoy her first season and perhaps meet her future husband. And what a delight it would be to watch Penny continue to grow into a beautiful young woman.

Andrew came to mind next, and her smile spread wider. What a dear rascal he was, with his boundless energy and a deep longing to please his father. She hoped he would grow into a wise young man with strong, godly character. And dear Millie, she was just beginning to blossom like a delicate little flower. How that darling girl had stolen her heart. Who would cherish her and teach her all she needed to know as she grew up? Would she learn to love the Lord and follow Him with her whole heart?

Julia released a sigh as she walked the length of the platform and found a spot out of the wind.

She tried not to think of William, but all they had shared rose and filled her mind. The sadness of parting from him returned like a crushing weight, and she could barely pull in her next breath.

Would he find happiness and contentment in his marriage to Alice? With Highland’s future secure, would he pursue some other worthy goal? She hoped he would enjoy a long and happy life, filled with the love of family and meaningful service to God and his fellow man. She prayed he would have all of that and more.

Her hand trembled as she pulled her train ticket from her pocket and read the words once more. Was this truly God’s will? Had she listened to His voice, or was she simply running away from the pain of a broken heart?

She closed her eyes and focused her thoughts. No, this was the right decision. She must not listen to those doubts. Her heart might not be in it yet, but if she stepped out in faith, her feelings would follow in time.

The bell sounded, announcing an oncoming train. She looked down the tracks, and in the distance, a dark engine approached, puffing smoke and pulling several passenger cars behind.

“Miss Foster!”

Her breath caught in her throat, and she turned, knowing his voice before she saw his face.

William ran across the road, jumped up at the end of the platform, and dashed toward her, his face flushed and his breathing heavy. “I was afraid I would be too late.”

She stared at him, unbelieving. “How did you know I was here?”

“I went to your parents’ home.” He pulled in a breath. “They told me you were leaving.”

“Oh.” Confusion swirled through her mind.

The train pulled in, its brakes screeching and steam billowing up around them.

“Well, it’s kind of you to come and see me off.” It was too painful to continue looking at him, so she turned away. “This is my train. I should go.”

“Miss Foster—Julia, please wait.”

She slowly turned, her heart beating loudly in her ears.
Julia …
He’d called her Julia!

He took off his hat and held it in his hands. “I misjudged you and drove you away with my foolish words and hurtful actions. And I would understand completely if you decided to board that train and put half a world between us, but I’d like you to come back to Highland.”

She searched his face. “As the governess?”

“No.” He groaned “Blast! I’m not doing this very well. Not as the governess. As my wife.”

Julia gasped. “But … I thought you were going to marry Alice.”

He shook his head. “I don’t love Alice. And it would be unfair to marry her just to save my estate.” His eyes warmed with a hopeful light as he watched her response. “What are houses and land when you cannot share them with the one you love?”

A smile rose from her heart to her lips.

He stepped closer. “I may not have a home or land to give you, but I do love you, and I promise I will do all I can to provide for you.”

“You would give up your chance to save Highland to marry me?”

He nodded. “You are worth that, and so much more. I was a fool not to see that from the first.”

She soaked in his loving words, letting them strengthen her heart.

“All aboard!” The conductor glanced her way. The train hissed and released another cloud of steam.

William reached for her hand. “I know I’m asking a lot, with my future so uncertain, but will you stay? Will you be my wife?”

Julia felt like her heart would burst. She tightened her hold on his hands and looked into his eyes. “Yes, I will.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her close. She closed her eyes, savoring his nearness and the wonderful words he had just spoken.

He stepped back and looked at her, a serious question in his eyes. “But this is a huge sacrifice to give up your calling to India. Are you sure?”

The answer rose in her heart, and she nodded. “My highest calling is to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and strength, and I want to always be true to that. But there are many ways to serve Him and many seasons in our lives. And I believe I can serve Him here, as your wife and as Andrew and Millie’s mother. It’s a gift, a treasure, and I’m grateful to receive it.”

His smile spread wider. “Very well said.”

She looked up at him, her heart overflowing. “And I have a gift I want to share with you.”

He cocked his head. “A gift? What do you mean?”

“I’ve received an inheritance from my grandfather … It’s more than enough to pay the death duties and all the other expenses at Highland.”

He stared at her. “An inheritance?”

She laughed. “Yes, it’s true. We can save Highland together, and it can remain our family’s home for generations to come.”

“Oh, my darling.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you will accept it, and thank the Lord with me, because He is the giver of every good gift.”

He nodded, his eyes shining. “Yes, and we’ll thank Him every day of our lives.”

She smiled, inviting him closer. He slipped his arms around her, leaned down, and brushed his lips across hers with the softest touch. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and the last of her doubts faded as he held her close and kissed her tenderly. Joy flooded her heart, and her sweet thanks rose to heaven.

THIRTY

On a bright and clear morning, the first Saturday in April, wedding bells rang out from the stone tower of St. John’s Church in the village of Fulton. A happy crowd of Highland staff, friends, family, and villagers gathered on the front walk of the church following the lovely ceremony.

The guests were smartly dressed, the men in their best suits and the women in their finest spring dresses and hats. Lining up on both sides of the walk, they waited to cheer the bride and groom as they left the church and boarded the carriage that would take them to Highland for the wedding luncheon.

Millie, wearing a pretty pink dress with many ruffles, stood on tiptoe, searching past the crowd, then she turned and clasped Julia’s hand. “Why aren’t they coming?”

Julia smiled down at Millie. “They’ll be out soon. They must sign the registry first.”

Andrew tugged at his necktie and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I hope they hurry. I’m getting hungry.”

William placed his hand on Andrew’s shoulder and smiled at Julia. She returned the smile. How handsome he looked in his morning coat with the white rosebud pinned to his lapel. It had been a very touching wedding ceremony, and Julia had been seated close enough to see the tears in William’s eyes when he kissed his sister’s cheek and gave her away to Clark Dalton.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Only five more months … Then we will be celebrating our own wedding.”

She nodded, hope and expectation rising in her heart. They had decided to take that time to get to know each other better and prepare for their marriage. In two weeks they would travel with the family to London for Katherine’s first season. Guiding her to make the best plans for the future was a priority for both William and Julia.

“Here they come!” Millie called.

Sarah and Clark stepped through the arched doorway, and a cheer rose from the crowd. Sarah looked elegant in her satin-and-lace wedding gown. She took Clark’s arm and walked toward Julia and William. Her train flowed out behind her, and the beading around her neck and sleeves sparkled in the sunshine. The fragrance of her pink rose bouquet drifted on the breeze. Clark, looking very dashing in his morning coat, a pink rosebud pinned on his lapel, beamed proudly as he escorted his new wife down the walk.

Millie reached into her basket and tossed pink rose petals in the air. Clark’s niece, Abigail, giggled and joined her on the other side of the walk.

Amid the shower of petals, Sarah stopped to kiss William’s cheek. “I love you,” she said softly.

“As I do you.” He sent her a brave smile, then shook Clark’s hand. “Take good care of her.”

“I will. I promise.”

Sarah turned to Julia, her eyes shining. “Thank you. Without you, none of this would have been possible.”

Julia shook her head. “The Lord has blessed us all.” She leaned in and kissed Sarah’s cheek. “God be with you, my dearest.”

“And you as well.” Sarah squeezed Julia’s hand, then she turned to Clark.

“Are you ready, Mrs. Dalton?” Clark grinned.

“Yes, I am.” Happy light danced in Sarah’s eyes as she took Clark’s arm again.

“We’ll be off then.” Clark turned to William. “We’ll see you at Highland.”

“Yes.” William nodded. “We’ll see you there.”

Clark helped Sarah board the carriage, then climbed in beside her.

William took Julia’s hand and wove his fingers through hers as the carriage pulled away. The crowd cheered again, and Julia lifted her hand to wave.

As the carriage rounded the bend, William released a sigh and smiled down at Julia. “What a happy day.”

“Yes, one of the happiest.”

His tender gaze lingered on her. “Thank you for loving me and my family.”

Julia’s heart lifted as she looked up at him. “I do, so very much.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “And my love will always be yours.”

The church bells rang out again, sending a message of hope and joy throughout the village, across the hills—and echoing all the way to Highland Hall.

READERS GUIDE

1. Education was quite different in the Edwardian Era than it is today. What do you think of Julia’s approach to teaching and working with Andrew and Millie? How do you think being taught by a governess would compare to the various types of education children receive today? What would be the benefits or drawbacks?

2. William was haunted by memories of his wife’s unfaithfulness. How did this impact him in the story, and how would you advise someone who has experienced that kind of wounding as he or she moves on?

3. Why did Katherine struggle with the idea of having a governess? Were her objections reasonable? How do you think Julia was able to help her grow and change in the story?

4. William and David struggled with sibling rivalry in their relationship. Why do you think that happened, and how did it impact them? Adult sibling relationships can be complicated. Share what you believe is the best method of conflict resolution within these close connections.