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As much as she had been thrilled by the trip, Adeline
wanted nothing more than to return home and relate her adventures to
Kesiah and Giles. She knew they had been to London many times before and
her tales would be old news to them. Still, they would listen to her every
word, hanging onto every detail as if it were a far off land they longed
to visit themselves. It was how they were. No one could ever have had such
great friends growing up and Giles, even at twenty-one, still spent time
with her and Kesiah when he wasn't ensconced in estate business for his
father.
The excursion to London had been a wonderful, unexpected and pleasant
surprise to her for her sixteenth birthday. Pa had saved for nearly a year
to make it possible. He had taken her to museums, a play and an opera.
They had stayed in a grand old hotel. For the time there she felt
important and special, but never comfortable. All she wanted to do was get
home, away from the stuffiness and confinements of the city.
Fortunately it was May; it had not gotten too hot yet. That would come
later in the year. It made the return trip more pleasant than it might
have been. The length of the ride however was beginning to wear on Adeline
as her father slept opposite her in the coach. She had not traveled much
far from home, but she knew where she was in reference to distance from it
as the coach made its various stops along the way.
"Pa, can I get out near Palisade? I want to see Kizzie and Giles. I want
to tell them all my news and invite them to dinner. You did say they could
come to dinner for my birthday when we returned, did you not?"
She had reached over and shaken him awake. Had to make sure the plans were
still set.
"Adeline, you'll put me in an early grave. Yes, you may invite whomever
you wish."
"Will you still have the coachman stop for me so that I may go directly
there and not have to travel back from the lighthouse?"
Her father gave an exasperated sigh. She could wear him down at times.
"I applied to the coachman at our last stopover. He agreed to do so; we
just have to inform him of when to pull aside."
"Then perhaps we should soon. We are within five miles, I believe."
Davis Goodwin knew his daughter to be right. She had rarely been to
London, but he had several occasions to travel the path each year to lie
in supplies. He rose up and leaned slightly out of the window yelling to
the driver to please stop after the next southeastern bend in the road.
The driver complied.
Adeline was almost too excited to contain as she jumped out of the coach.
"Pa. I imagine I shall be home by two. That will give me time to prepare
everything."
He hardly had time to make a reply as she started running in the direction
of Palisade. "And don't run!"
Adeline pulled off her bonnet, grabbed her dress up in her hand and
disappeared over a hill. She ran down and through the main gate to seek
out her companions. Before she had gotten halfway up the cobbled drive to
the main door she noticed that several coach and fours, a few stray horses
and carriages were gathered outside the home. She stopped, looked around,
and did not see the presence of anyone outside the place. Had she
forgotten that some form of afternoon party was to take place here today
that she should not interfere with? Should not be seen in attendance of?
She stood back and thought on any conversations she possibly had with
Giles or Mrs. Cavender before her departure to London a fortnight ago.
Nothing came to mind. Thinking it might be wiser to inquire as to the
nature of the event, Adeline walked to the side of the house to the
kitchen entrance. Perhaps Anna or Beatrice or Carlton would be about and
she would question them. Surely they had to know. It did not take long to
locate someone after she turned the corner.
"Anna? Am I here at a time of inconvenience to see Giles?"
"Miss Adeline. I see you've returned from your trip. No, no, dear. It's
mostly family and friends. More impromptu I guess you'd say. They've all
come to wish master Giles and Miss Kesiah well."
"Whatever do you mean Anna?"
"That's right, you haven't heard have you? You've been gone since."
"Anna? What?”
"Master Giles and Miss Kesiah are engaged. Isn't that wonderful news?"
Every part of Adeline's body went numb; her knees almost gave out as she
leaned back against the stone wall for support. Her eyes stayed fixated in
disbelief on Anna.
"Are you all right Miss Adeline? I can get you some water if you need."
"No. No thank you. I...I believe I shall go home now. I'll be fine."
"Did you not want to stay and add your well wishes to them? I do believe
Master Giles expected to see you here sometime today. I heard him tell
Mistress Cavender that you were returning early afternoon from London."
With no other word Adeline took off running as fast and as hard as she
could. She had no desire for anyone, especially Anna, to see her tears,
her heartache. Running had never been so hard. Her heart felt as if it
would burst out of her chest from the agony that had just been inflicted,
but she continued running until she reached the grove on the far western
edge of Palisade and collapsed next to the stream. She cried
uncontrollably until tears stopped flowing.
"How could he do this to me? How could he not know that we are meant to be
together? Has he not seen how much I have always loved him?"
The birthday dinner and celebration were soon forgotten; sinking to the
furthest reaches of her mind. The hours slipped by as she sat, unable to
move, in more anguish than she ever thought possible for one person to
have to bear. She was aware of nothing, not the sun beating down nor the
breeze blowing gently through the trees, until she felt a presence; one
she always felt, recognized and could not ignore......Giles. |