Ellenborough’s heart swelled within him, and he couldn’t stop his answering smile.
“Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”
“Gar and Juliana are vagabonds; that’s how they describe themselves. They don’t keep servants long because they love to move about,” Niki explained to Lizzy while they enjoyed a cup of tea. Edward and Morland had taken the boys on that promised ride. “Denley had just begun to work for them, and for some reason, the two of us fit together quite nicely. It’s unusual, but then so is my situation. As a man Denley could get things for me that a female servant could not. He was willing to see to nearly every job, and of course a woman would never have worked when I went in disguise.”
“What was that like?” Lizzy found herself captivated.
“Frightening. I was never very relaxed. I wanted to be with my boys, and the constant fear of discovery was draining.”
“But the Lawtons always kept them safe?”
“Yes. They’ve been quite wonderful.”
“Where are they now?”
“On the move, I’m afraid, because Ellenborough found them.”
“How do they contact you, or you them?”
“We have a special place where we mail messages, a small town that no one has ever discovered.”
“Well, I hope you’ll write and tell them you’re here to stay. Invite them to visit. I would love to meet these people.”
“They would enjoy that so much.” Niki looked as pleased as she felt. “I think they might even love Collingbourne if they haven’t settled already.”
“Is Juliana Lawton the woman who introduced you to Christ?”
“No.” Some of the light went out of Niki’s eyes. “Gar and Juliana don’t see much need for God. They’re very self-sufficient, and I’m not sure they grasp such things.”
“We’ll just have to pray that they see their need,” Lizzy said simply.
Niki looked at her. “I like you, Lizzy Morland. I like you very much.”
Lizzy twinkled at her. “I’m glad to hear that, Niki, but what I really want to know is whether you like my brother.”
Niki smiled shyly but wasn’t afraid to admit the truth. “I do like him. I like him very much.”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that.”
“Did you doubt?” Niki decided to tease. “I can’t think why anyone wouldn’t like Henry Steele. He’s a fine man.”
Taken very much by surprise, Lizzy burst out laughing. She grabbed her napkin and put it over her mouth, but her giggles would not be suppressed.
Niki laughed with her. If the children had been anywhere near the vicinity, they would have come running to find out what they were missing, but the women were alone.
Thoughts of the children quelled some of Niki’s joy. Patrice would be on her way soon—she was certain of that. When the children were not in her presence, she was not completely convinced they were safe. Knowing this was a lack of trust, Niki resolved to try in the weeks to come to put that trust in place. She would find it to be the most difficult task of her life.
Chapter Twenty
By the time Patrice Bettencourt arrived in Collingbourne, the Walkers were home. Niki and the boys were once again safely ensconced at Blackburn Manor, where Edward visited and spent most of each day.
They had not announced their engagement nor even hinted at it, but the conversations that went on were all with a future in mind. Edward had not asked the question that was in his heart. They still had things to learn about each other, and facing Niki’s mother-in-law was just one more aspect of that journey.
“She’s here,” Walker told his wife, Edward, and Niki on the third Wednesday of May. Denley had been making daily trips into town, so they knew that Patrice had arrived the day before. Since then the boys had been under very watchful eyes. Denley had been with them full-time, and two other men with the Walker household were available constantly. All three men were armed. No one wanted anyone to be hurt, but at this point no one was willing to take any chances.
“Mr Walker.” Bertram was suddenly at the door. “A Mrs Patrice Bettencourt is here for Mrs Bettencourt.”
“Thank you, Bertram. Please show her in.”
There was nothing stupid about Patrice Bettencourt. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it. She did not expect to find Niki alone and played no games to the contrary.
“Nicola,” the elder Bettencourt said as she nodded to her daughter-in-law, “thank you for receiving me.”
“You’re welcome,” Niki replied with more calm than she felt, memories rushing back in a hurry. “Allow me to introduce my Aunt Walker and her husband. And this gentleman is Mr Steele.”
Patrice nodded to all in turn and sat when she was invited to do so. She took her time finding Niki’s eyes with her own and then spoke plainly, and in French for the first time. “We’ve come at cross purposes, Nicola. I’m sorry it’s come to this point.”
“As am I.”
Patrice looked very relieved. “I was certain you’d feel that way. You must know how much I want to see the boys.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do. What I don’t know is why you would try to keep them from me.”
“I was a different person then, Nicola. You must see that I was overcome with grief.”
Niki stared at her. Patrice looked back, seeing already that this was not going to unfold according to her original plan. She had to hide her satisfaction that she had a backup plan in place.
“If I could turn back the hands of time,” Patrice went on, her voice very contrite, “there is so much I would do differently.”
“Such as?” Niki asked politely, feeling more in control by the minute.
“I would have spoken to you and not just acted. I would have explained how much I had planned for the boys; I’m sure you would have seen.”
“But it would have all boiled down to my giving up my sons?” Niki asked, her voice telling Patrice that she had better step lightly.
“Of course not,” she lied. “I never wanted to cut you out of their lives. I acted without thought, as I’m sure you have by keeping them from me.”
“On the contrary, Patrice, I’ve given great thought to my actions.”
“But surely I can see them now that we’ve talked.” Patrice’s voice was at its most reasonable. “You will let me visit with them today, won’t you, Nicola?”
“Visit with them, Patrice, or take them?” Niki asked, not sure where the question had come from but suddenly needing to know.
“Visit with them, of course. I know how much children need their mothers.”
Patrice’s smile was at its kindest, and for a moment she looked like a loving, benevolent grandmother ready with warm gingerbread and milk. And indeed, Niki might have been taken in but for a sudden commotion at the door.
Newton, one of the men who had been put on guard with Denley and the boys, opened the door without request and pushed a man into the room ahead of him. The shove was enough to send the stranger to the floor, where he caught himself on his hands and turned back to Newton to spit something out in angry French.
“This man crawled through the window of the boys’ room,” Newton explained, not taking his irate eyes from the intruder.
In stunned silence the occupants of the room stared down at the man on the floor, his face bruised and bleeding. His intent needed no explanation.
Walker ordered him to be taken away and held. The words were no more out of his mouth when Niki came to her feet and faced her husband’s mother.
“Get out, Patrice,” she told her. “Get out and never come back.”
Patrice came to her feet as well. All vestiges of kindness fell away. She glared at Niki before beginning her verbal attack.
“You’ll never rest,” Patrice hissed, her face growing red with agitation. “You’ll be watching over your shoulder day and night, never knowing when one of my men will come for those boys. My grandsons!”
“What do you
think my life has been like?” Niki asked, her own anger coming out. “You made the choice to rob me of my children, and now the loss is yours. Do you actually think you could win their affection now? I mean everything to them.”
“They’re young,” Patrice insisted wildly. “Children adapt.”
“Do you hear yourself?” Edward spoke for the first time, also using French. “Out of your own selfish need you would take those boys and turn their world upside down.”
“How dare you speak to me! Shut your mouth!”
“I won’t.” Edward’s voice was deadly calm. “You dare to come here, threaten our lives and our happiness, and then expect me to remain still, but I won’t. There’s one more thing you should know. The authorities in Collingbourne have been made aware of your arrival. My brother has even written to a friend at Scotland Yard, telling him Niki’s story and the part you played. And don’t ever forget this, Mrs Bettencourt: Niki is an Englishwoman and as such is protected by the laws of our land.”
It was on Patrice’s mind to tell them that her grandsons were French and belonged in her land, but another tactic was needed here. She let her shoulders slump, her face crumple.
“It’s been so long,” she spoke wretchedly. “My dear Louis is gone, and I long to see his children.”
Upon these pitifully spoken words, she dropped into a chair, her face in her hands as she quietly wept. It took a few moments for her to realize that no one had spoken or come to comfort her. She looked up to find no pity in the faces watching her. The amazement she felt showed in her eyes. She studied the four faces before her and then spoke to her daughter-in-law.
“You’re not going to let me see them, are you, Nicola?”
“No, not today and probably never.”
The calm she heard in Nicola’s voice chilled Patrice to the bone.
“Why?” was all she could think to say.
“You’re not to be trusted. Your little counterplot today has more than proved that. No matter how many years pass, I’ll never forget that my children were terrified of me. I can only imagine the horrible things you did or told them. You still feel you have rights here. You’ve stood before us and issued threats. You’re no grandmother; you’re a monster.”
The hatred that blazed from her mother-in-law’s eyes shook Niki. Patrice stood to her magnificent height, her chin high and her voice clear.
“I will have those boys before I die. They’re mine by birthright, and I will see the job done.”
“Then someone will be hurt or killed, or imprisoned at the very least,” Edward said quietly. “Not a one of us will stand back while you attempt this deed. If you send someone to do this task or come yourself, there will be bloodshed if that’s what it takes to protect those boys.”
Patrice’s eyes swung to Niki. “And you agree with what this man has said?”
“Completely.”
The hatred in the French woman’s face made her ugly. Niki mentally flinched from what she saw there but held her ground.
Without a word to anyone in the room, Patrice Bettencourt swept toward the door and exited, slamming the portal behind her.
“I’ll make sure she’s gone,” Walker said, moving to follow.
Niki sat down, all strength leaving her. “Please, Edward,” she begged softly. “I must see the boys. Please make sure she doesn’t take them.”
With a hand to her cheek, Edward said, “I’ll bring them to you right now.”
Mary was at Niki’s side in the next moment, her arms going around her.
“The worst is over now, Niki. You were wonderful.”
“She’ll be back.”
“She might be, but you’ll know what to do, and you’ll teach the boys what to do if and when she ever confronts them.”
Niki raised her head and looked into her aunt’s eyes.
“Why didn’t I think of that? Why have I not seen that I could tell them about her and teach them what to do?”
Mary smiled gently into Niki’s eyes and fixed one of the little curls on her forehead, knowing there was no need to answer. And anyway, there wasn’t time. Edward arrived a moment later, the boys on his back. Niki took them into her arms and held them tight. Edward joined her on the sofa, and Mary knew that right now she wasn’t needed at all.
“What happened?” Mary asked of Walker over the dinner table that evening. Walker had been gone a good deal of the afternoon. Niki had eaten early with the boys.
“Newton and I took Yvon into town,” he said, referring to the man who had broken in.
“That’s his name?”
“Yes, he told us that much. He confessed to being hired by Patrice Bettencourt, and when I left, Yvon was locked up and Mrs Bettencourt was being questioned.”
“Was she upset over that?”
Walker shook his head at the woman’s temerity.
“She’s only making herself look worse with the fits she throws. She refused to speak in English until I told the constable that she could.”
“That must have gone down rather hard.”
“Yes, it did, but as I said, she’s only hurting herself. Where is Niki, by the way?”
“She dined early with the boys, and now they’re upstairs.”
Walker nodded. “I’ll go up after the boys are asleep and tell her what happened.”
“I can’t think she’ll be too pleased that Mrs Bettencourt is still here.”
“The constable knows that I want to be kept abreast of the situation. I left Newton in town to keep an eye on things.”
“That’s a comfort.”
Even as she said the words, Mary thought about the uncertainties of this life. Was there a safe place for any of them? No, there wasn’t. Not truly safe, not outside of God’s hands.
Feeling more tired than she had in weeks, Mary was glad that Walker was finished talking. She finished her meal, kissed her husband and thanked him for all he’d done, and then retired to her room for the rest of the night.
“Why does she want to take us?” Christopher asked his mother after the three of them had talked for nearly an hour.
“She thinks she needs to be your mother.”
“But you’re our mother.”
“Yes, I am. And that’s why you need to be careful not to go anywhere with or speak to anyone you don’t know.”
“And if someone should try to touch us, we get to yell.”
Niki smiled into Richard’s eyes. He had made it sound like a privilege, but if it worked, that was fine with her.
Walker poked his head in long enough to tell Niki he needed to have a word with her, so she urged the boys under the covers and then bent to kiss them.
“Mama?” Richard said before she could blow out the lantern.
“Yes, Rich.”
“Chris wants to go to heaven with us.”
Niki stopped all movements. She looked over at Christopher, who was watching her, his face a little uncertain. Niki smiled at him and he smiled back.
“When did you decide this, Chris?”
“When that man came in the window. I thought he was going to kill us.”
Niki reached for the little boy, gathered him close, and held him tightly in her arms. She knew Walker wanted to speak to her but also that he would understand. This was about eternity, and Niki was swiftly learning that there wasn’t anything more important.
“How are you?” Edward asked Niki the next morning while on a walk. The boys had run ahead toward the creek, and because they were still in view, Edward and Niki took their time.
“I’m doing very well.”
Edward turned to look at her.
“I believe you are,” he agreed with a smile.
“I never dreamed that something good could come of yesterday, Edward, but it has.”
Edward stopped, not wanting to miss a word.
“Chris was so frightened that he wanted to talk about salvation. He prayed with Rich and me last night.”
Edward’s eyes closed as emotion filled him
. He’d prayed for that little boy every day, and now, with only a few weeks gone by, Christopher Bettencourt believed. Christopher Bettencourt knew the Savior.
“I so wish I could take you in my arms,” Edward said, remembering that they had to keep up with the boys.
“You can take Chris in your arms.” Niki’s voice sounded pleased. “But then he’ll want to know why.”
“Then I won’t. I’ll wait for him to tell me when he’s ready.”
Niki abruptly stopped walking, so Edward stopped with her. She looked into the eyes of the man she wanted to father her children. His tenderness and caring never ceased to amaze her. The boys felt it too.
“He’ll want to tell you,” she said confidently.
“How do you know?” Edward asked, but Niki didn’t answer. She began to walk again, and Edward happily followed. She didn’t have a lot more to say, but the smile on her face made Edward’s heart turn over in his chest.
I think she’s the one, Lord. Please help me to lead with my head, especially when my heart wants to gallop away with me.
Newcomb Park
“It’s big!” Richard said with wonder, his eyes on the large, dead insect Henry Steele presented in his study.
“It’s from Africa,” Henry told the boys. “Edward sent it to me, but then when I visited, I brought something home for myself.”
This said, Henry brought out a snake skin—very long, wide, and colorful—that made the boys’ eyes huge and their mouths gape. Edward, also in the group and quietly watching their faces, started to laugh, thinking this was fun.
The idea had originated with Henry. Niki had not been to Collingbourne to shop or have tea since she arrived. Much as Edward would have liked to go with her, he thought she might agree to the outing if he took the boys for the day.
Lizzy, Cassandra, and Marianne picked up Niki, the boys, and Mary Walker midmorning. In great spirits, they dropped the boys at Newcomb Park and headed toward Collingbourne. If the smiles and laughter coming from both groups were any indication, the day was sure to be a success.
Blackburn Manor