Far From Home (51 page)

‘Oh!’ Mrs Newmarch seemed perplexed. ‘And have you met her?’

Jewel’s lips moved wordlessly.

‘Mother!’ Martin went to sit on the sofa by her side. ‘Mother. This is Jewel, Edward’s daughter. Miss Gregory has brought her home to us.’

Georgiana shuddered uneasily. No! No! It isn’t like that, she thought.

Mrs Newmarch looked intensely at Jewel. ‘But how can that be? Edward was married to May. She doesn’t have any children!’

‘No, Mama.’ Martin spoke patiently. ‘Not May. Jewel’s mother was called Tsui, but Edward was her father.’

Mrs Newmarch beckoned to Jewel to come closer. She stroked the little girl’s long tresses which hung below her bonnet. ‘So dark and silky,’ she murmured. ‘Who was your mother, did you say?’

‘Tsui.’ Jewel blinked her long lashes. ‘She was a beautiful Chinese lady and lived with Papa.’ She looked wistful. ‘I don’t remember her, but that is what Papa said. I only remember Jed and Larkin and Dolly.’

‘And who were they?’ Mrs Newmarch asked.

Georgiana cleared her throat and interrupted. ‘Jed and Larkin travelled with Edward to California, Mrs Newmarch,’ she said. ‘And Dolly managed Edward’s business. They were good friends,’ she added. ‘Edward was proud to know them. He valued their friendship – and they were with him at the end.’

Mrs Newmarch put her head down and rubbed her fingers over her eyes. ‘My poor Eddie,’ she murmured. ‘My poor darling Eddie.’

Jewel, on hearing the familiar name of her father, stepped closer to her grandmother and touched her arm. ‘Don’t cry, Grandmama,’ she whispered. ‘Try to be brave,’ and Mrs Newmarch put her arms around the little girl and wept.

One more person to visit, Georgiana pondered, and then I must decide what to do with my life. And Jewel’s. Mrs Newmarch wanted Jewel to live with Martin and his wife, even though she was concerned about her illegitimacy.

‘If she has the name of Newmarch, she will be known in this district and possibly have a finger pointed at her,’ she told Georgiana. ‘But Martin and Grace are known for their philanthropy. Grace has helped many a wretched woman who has a child out of wedlock. I must say,’ she added, ‘that my views have changed considerably since knowing Grace and although, of course, I don’t condone impropriety or infidelity, I do declare that some poor women have many difficulties and some men have much to answer for!’

Georgiana had raised an eyebrow and a slight smile at Mrs Newmarch’s words. Perhaps women’s expectations were changing, after all, if a matron of Mrs Newmarch’s class and upbringing could alter her opinion.

She had asked Grace for the address of her friend Ruby, and Grace, without a moment’s hesitation, had given it to her. ‘Visit during a morning,’ she had discreetly advised. ‘Her husband is a toy-maker and chooses his timber mid-morning and visits the bank and so forth, whilst Ruby minds the shop.’

The toyshop was situated in Manor Street, just off the Land of Green Ginger. Jewel danced and clapped her hands when told the name of the street. ‘It sounds like magic, Aunt Gianna. Will it disappear before we get there?’

‘I’m sure it is a magical street, Jewel, for no-one knows how or why it came to be named,’ Georgiana explained. ‘But I’m certain it will still be there.’

The shop, which was tucked into a corner, was small and had a bow window full of brightly coloured wares. A painted wooden tree was decorated with small toys, a clown hung from the ceiling and twirled his soft body in the breeze drifting in from the open door. A wooden duck bobbed its head up and down into a bowl of water and on a shelf sat wooden dolls with painted faces, dressed in silk and satin gowns and bonnets.

From the open doorway came the sweet smell of burnt sugar and cinnamon. Jewel, whose eyes had opened wide at the splendour of the window display, licked her lips and asked if they could please go inside to have a further look.

A bell jangled as they pushed the door wider and stepped in. Arranged around the shop were pieces of wooden furniture, stools and chairs and small tables, just the right size for children. A pretty dark-haired woman came out from an inner door. ‘Good morning, ma’am.’ She smiled pleasantly and bobbed her knee, and said hello to Jewel.

‘Have you come to look at our lovely toys?’ she asked Jewel, then, taking another look at her, said, ‘Why – you’re prettier by far than any of our dollies. I haven’t seen you before. Are you a visitor?’

She had an accent which Georgiana recognized as belonging to the Hull area. So this is Ruby, she thought, and I can see why Edward was so attracted to her. She had a natural vivaciousness which seemed to bubble from within her.

‘Yes, we’re visiting relatives,’ Georgiana began, when Jewel broke in. ‘What’s that nice smell?’

‘It’s toffee.’ Ruby smiled. ‘Perhaps you would like a piece?’ She offered a tray of sticky golden honeycomb toffee. ‘I make it to draw in my young customers,’ she admitted to Georgiana.

Jewel took a piece, then, pushing the toffee to the side of her cheek with her tongue, remarked chattily, ‘I’ve got a new grandmama.’

‘Then you are very lucky,’ Ruby acknowledged gravely. ‘My little boys don’t have a grandmother of their own, but their friends let them share theirs.’

‘I’m about five,’ Jewel told her and idly picked up a wooden box. ‘How old are your little boys?’

‘Dan is six and Thomas is nearly five. They’re both at school this morning, otherwise you could have met them.’

‘At school?’ Georgiana was delighted to hear of it, for she knew of Ruby’s deprived background.

Ruby nodded proudly. ‘Dame school just around ’corner. We – that is, Daniel, my husband, and me – want them to get on in life. We want them to have an education.’

‘Ruby,’ Georgiana said softly. ‘You won’t know me, but my name is Georgiana Gregory and—’

‘Oh!’ Ruby exclaimed. ‘Miss Gregory! I know about you through my friend Grace.’

‘Ah!’ Jewel had pressed the box lid and it popped open, revealing a bobbing black-faced toy. ‘Look!’

‘Put it down please, Jewel,’ Georgiana said firmly. ‘Don’t touch!’

‘It’s all right, Miss Gregory,’ Ruby assured her. ‘The toys here are almost unbreakable.’ She laughed. ‘My husband tests them out on our boys. You went to America, didn’t you?’ she went on. ‘I thought you were so brave to travel alone.’

‘I met Edward Newmarch whilst I was in America,’ Georgiana said, and Jewel looked up at his name. ‘He asked me if I would call to see you if ever I came back to England.’

‘Grace told me that he’d died,’ Ruby murmured. ‘I’m so very sorry. I’ve often thought of him. He—’ She looked pensive. ‘He saved my life. I admit I was ashamed of what I did, but without him I would have finished up in ’workhouse.’

She took a handkerchief from her apron pocket and blew her nose. ‘I’m sorry if I upset his wife. I didn’t mean to do that. But in the end I did care for him. Onny, not enough to go with him. I loved Daniel, you see.’

Georgiana nodded. ‘I think he understood.’ Ruby would never have survived, she thought. Not in the rough and tumble of California or the genteel life of New York. She would have been too vulnerable. I would think that she needs someone to look after her, and now she has a husband and two sons who will do that. ‘Edward sent a last message for you, Ruby,’ she said quietly. ‘He wanted me to tell you that he loved you always.’ She glanced down at Jewel, who was once again amusing herself with the jack-in-the-box. ‘He named his daughter after you. Jewel.’

‘Yes?’ The little girl looked up again at the mention of her name. ‘I wish I lived here with all these toys!’

A tear trickled down Ruby’s face. ‘Where is her mother? Is she – is she an orphan, Miss Gregory? Cos if so, I’d ask Daniel if we could take her. I would, gladly!’

‘Yes, she is an orphan, and it seems that everyone wants you, Jewel.’ Georgiana felt a warmth stealing over her at Ruby’s generosity towards her former lover’s child, but also a sensation of melancholy and loneliness.

Jewel came and took hold of Georgiana’s hand. ‘I’m going to live with Aunt Gianna.’ She leaned against her and looked up at Ruby and spoke in her determined childish treble. ‘Aunt Grace has two little girls and you have two little boys, so you don’t need any more children. Aunt Gianna does, because she doesn’t have anyone else of her own, except for Uncle Wilhelm, and he’s far away in America.’

Georgiana considered Jewel’s comments as they walked back towards the High Street. Jewel was clutching the jack-in-the-box which Ruby had presented to her, and Georgiana carried gifts for Elizabeth and Clara. She had offered, as Edward had requested she should, to give monetary help to Ruby if she should need it. But she had refused the offer.

‘Don’t think I’m ungrateful, Miss Gregory,’ she had said. ‘But we manage quite nicely and Daniel wouldn’t take kindly to me taking money from Edward.’

I’ve fulfilled my duty to everyone, Georgiana thought. To May on behalf of her parents’ benevolence towards me, and Edward to whom I made a promise. But what shall I do now? There was an empty place in her heart now that Lake was gone, though since coming to England his presence was no longer so dominant. He is alive in the mountains and forests, dwelling where his ancestors are, she mused sadly, looking vaguely around her at the bustling town. There is no place for him in city streets or busy towns.

During the afternoon, Jewel went to the nursery to play with Elizabeth and Clara under the watchful eye of a maid. Martin and Grace were both out and Georgiana sat in a chair by the window of her room and contemplated the life in front of her. She looked down at the narrow street below, which was filled with drays and waggons. The river Hull ran behind these houses and this was a street where shipping merchants lived and worked.

I can’t stay here, she deliberated. I’m hemmed in by the closeness of the buildings. Grace has lived her life in the confines of the town and feels comfortable within these familiar narrow walls. She got up and paced the room. I have become used to the open spaces of America, but can I take Jewel back there when her family is here? You could leave her, a voice inside her head told her. She is not your child. She will be loved and cared for with her family. You could have your freedom once again.

‘No!’ She spoke out loud. ‘I cannot.’ She groaned. What should I do? Wilhelm, if only you were here, you would advise me. She lay down on her bed, but then, still disturbed, got up again. Why am I so distracted? I have always made decisions before. She put her hands to her head as she paced. I miss them all so much. Kitty and the babies. But most of all I miss Wilhelm. He has been my rock, my advisor, my friend.

The image of Wilhelm with his round dimpled cheeks came swiftly to mind as she recollected their shared conversations, either in her log house or sitting on a bench of an evening, watching the sun go down on the mountains, turning the rippling water of the creek to flame. She thought of their rides together on the long journeys to Philadelphia, and of their animated discussions over the articles which were to be printed in the
Star
newspaper. But most of all she thought of his warm and caring presence when he comforted her after Lake’s death. I was so comfortable in his company, she remembered. So sheltered and at ease. She swallowed hard. And now I am so alone.

‘Georgiana! Come in, do.’ Martin beckoned to her from within the open door of his library a few days later as she came down the stairs. He was working at his desk in his shirtsleeves, which he rolled up his arms. ‘You are unhappy. Grace and I have both noticed it. Is there anything we can do?’

Grace had taken the three children out into the town with the vague promise that they just might pass by the shop in the Land of Green Ginger.

Georgiana shook her head. ‘Just a trace of melancholia, Martin. It will pass.’

‘Do you want to go back to America?’ His eyes were kind, not unlike Wilhelm’s, she thought. In fact, she pondered, they are very similar in nature. I used to think that Martin was very conventional and sober, without any fire, but I was so wrong.

‘I don’t know what I want,’ she admitted. ‘I think I am lost.’

‘Would you like to talk about it?’

Her eyes brimmed. ‘Perhaps I would. I need a friend to talk to because I have lost my one and only true one.’

She told him of the impossible love she had had for Lake and of his trapper’s life in the forests. She told him of the tall and handsome Iroquois Indians who had once been forest warriors and hunters. Of their wives, who had equality and their own council of women who made decisions. She spoke of Dekan and Horse who had conducted the ceremony for Lake’s last spiritual journey to join his ancestors. She described Dreumel’s Creek, where a settlement was now growing, and told him of Kitty and Ted, Jason and Ellis, of Pike’s death, and Isaac and Nellie O’Neil. And finally of Wilhelm.

Martin had not interrupted her with questions and as she finished speaking he shook his head in wonder. ‘Such rich memories you have gathered, Georgiana,’ he said softly. ‘How favoured you have been to see so much of another country, to gather such knowledge and to make so many friends.’

He leaned towards her and hesitated as if choosing his words carefully before speaking. ‘I’m so sorry that you have lost the man you loved. But I can only say, in the words of Tennyson, when you sorrow most, ‘‘ ’
Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
.’’ ’

Georgiana bowed her head and nodded. ‘Yes, that I know, and I will forever hold Lake dear in my memory.’ She lifted her head and gazed at him. ‘But when I said I had lost my one and only true friend,’ her voice dropped to a whisper, ‘I meant Wilhelm.’

Two weeks later Georgiana had almost made up her mind to return to America with Jewel, but then she would hear Jewel’s excited shrieks as she played with her cousins, and wonder if it was fair to take her away from them.

‘You must not let us hold you here, Georgiana.’ Grace, in her gentle way, was concerned about them both. ‘Jewel will have a good life with you if you return to America, and she will make other friends.’

‘It is so difficult to know what to do for the best,’ Georgiana confessed. ‘I enjoy your company, Grace. It is such a pleasure for me to know you and Martin again. I’m sorry that I’m so downcast.’