Willow Grove Abbey (42 page)

After the cere
mony, we returned to
Willow Grove
where Nan had prepared a lovely champagne luncheon. Of course there’d been only a few guests at the ceremony... Mummy, Papa, The Hausfater’s, Joseph, Nan, Martha, Helen, and a few of the family’s old friends from the village and surrounding estates, whom I had known since childhood. When we were all settled in the drawing room, going over each detail of the morning, Spence told Isabella he had something to give her. Her eyes lighted, as they always did when her Papa presented her with a gift. I had no idea what he had gotten her, but knew it would be something she’d adore. Sure enough, Spence had done something extraordinarily thoughtful. He’d purchased a small ring for Isabella, which he placed on her hand. “This is to show that I became your official Papa today, darling,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. It was a sweet ring, with a pearl center, and tiny chips of emeralds surrounding it. It was her first piece of jewelry, and she was nearly popping her buttons with pride. She ran through the house showing everyone her ring, and we all became tearful at Spence’s lovely gesture.

When the last guest left, and Nan
began clearing the remnants of the party, Spence and I decided to take a walk. We changed into comfortable clothes, and strolled about the property, ending up at the old burying ground, where I pointed out the resting places of various ancestors, and explained who they were and their significance to the family. He was genuinely interested. Not having had a family for so long; it was a gift for him to suddenly become a part of so much history. “Sophia, I’m beginning to understand your deep love for
Willow Grove
as I spend more time here, and now that we’re married, it’s a good feeling to be a part of a family with such deep roots,” he said, holding my hand, as he examined the quaint old epitaphs.

“I w
ant you to love it as I do,” I answered. “You know that I haven’t always had a happy life here, but my memories of this house and its special setting are such a part of me. I wish we could live here someday, although that’s probably a fantasy” she smiled.

“Well, one never knows,” he answered. I pro
mise you that we’ll always visit frequently. Surely, your father plans on making certain that it stays in the family? He added.

“Oh, certainly. Actually the eldest son will be the one to
inherit, according to the Law of Primogeniture and that will be Blake, but he hasn’t much interest in living here. His wife Susan is an only child, and she also comes from a family with an enormous estate in Scotland. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they inherit in Scotland, and he chooses that over
Willow Grove
. Drew will become the vicar at the Chapel someday, although there isn’t much congregation to support such a position. People from the village still attend, and of course, family and staff, but there is a new church that was built shortly before the War. Blake will probably open a
Somerville, Ltd
. branch in Leith or Edinburgh. So, that leaves you and me. Of course, all of this is mere speculation, since Mummy and Papa are still very much alive. I certainly would never contemplate living here with them. Once the war ends we can make our own home.”

“The upkeep on an estate like this is vast, I’
m sure,” Spence commented. “I’d need to be a very successful physician to take on a property of this magnitude someday,” he smiled.

“Spence, I have a good deal of
money from Owen, you know. I hope you understand that anything I have is also yours, “I added.

“Darling, I know that. However, I feel s
trongly that I don’t want Owen’s money to be a part of our income or support. You know how I feel about that subject.” I did know how he felt, as we had discussed it at length, and he’d made it exceedingly clear that Owen’s money was not to be counted as income to support us. I understood his feelings, and didn’t even think about arguing. Actually, I was proud that he felt the way he did. I would be completely content with whatever lifestyle Spence provided for us.

We strolled slowly back to the house, and went upstairs to what had beco
me our bed chamber, instead of simply mine. Isabella was sleeping in Mummy and Papa’s room, so that Spence and I might have an uninterrupted wedding night. We went directly to our room, where Nan had, once again, prepared everything as nicely as if we had been staying at the
Grande..
There was again a bottle of champagne and a tray of fruit, cheeses, and biscuits. I ran a hot bath, poured in some of my delicious lavender oil and disappeared for a good hour, while luxuriating and thinking about how differently this night would be than when I had married Owen. Although Spence and I hadn’t been celibate since we’d rediscovered one another on Christmas Eve, the addition of marriage to the equation heightened my anticipation and love. When I stepped out of the bath, feeling warm and rosy all over, I brushed my hair until it shined, and slipped on my white satin, slip-style nightgown. I took pleasure in the fact that I was every bit as tiny as I had been in 1935, when we had first made love, yet my body was more fully developed, and more curvaceous. Finally, emerging from the bath, I found Spence sitting in front of the fire, reading the
Times.
“So this is what men do to pass the time while waiting for their wives on their wedding night” I laughed, chidingly. Then, I leaned down and kissed him, and told him that I loved him madly. He reached up and pulled me down to him, and kissed me even more passionately. I could feel that he was aroused.

“Whoa, wait just a
moment Mrs. Stanton.” he grinned. “I want to bathe before I ravish your body. My God but you’re beautiful Sophia.”

“Then you’d better be off to the bath, because I don’t want to wait
more than a moment,” I teased.

He kissed
me again, and then disappeared behind the door of the loo. I heard the running of water. It wasn’t long before he was back in the room, looking fresh and young, with his hair still damp, dressed in a pair of pale blue, crisp cotton pajamas. We sat next to one another on the small loveseat in front of the fire, and he poured two glasses of champagne. Then, he raised his glass to mine and said “To my astonishingly beautiful wife, whom I promise to cherish every moment of our lives. “We both took a sip of the champagne, and then placed the glasses on the oval marble-topped table in front of the loveseat. He took me into his arms and began to kiss me with those little, nibbling motions, which he knew drove me wild. Our touching and caressing grew more and more intense, and we moved to the bed, where he made love to me in ways I had never imagined. I’d believed that I’d experienced every ounce of passion I was capable of, but it seemed that knowing we were husband and wife, and that nothing was forbidden, loosened any last inhibitions either one of us had. We were truly one in every way, and the intensity of our love was overwhelming.

When it was over, Spence brought up the subject of
more children. I’d hoped that he would do so, as I wanted another baby badly, and prayed that he would be in agreement. Knowing his feelings about the war, and our being apart, I wasn’t certain that he would want to bring another child into the world at such a time. However, he surprised me by saying that he would like that more than anything, if I was in accord. So, we made the decision to dispense with all precautions, and let nature take its course. I knew that the time was promising for me to conceive, and hoped we might mark that wonderful night with the creation of a new life.

We only had two nights together, and they passed so quickly. We spent our days with Isabella, and the nights without sleep, but we lazed about and slept late in the
mornings. Still, it all ended much too quickly, and before I knew it, we were standing at the station again, holding one another, and saying goodbye. There were the usual words and endearments that lovers and spouses all over the globe were murmuring to one another about caution and care, and then he was gone again. I stood holding Isabella’s hand, as his train disappeared into the distance.

Things ha
d been relatively quiet on the war front for that special holiday, but, it turned out to be only a lull before a storm. To begin with, on New Year’s Eve, the Germans chose to launch one of the worst attacks yet upon London. Thinking that they would catch the Brits in a down time, during the period between Christmas and the New Year, they seized the opportunity and flew their beastly airplanes, dropping hundreds and hundreds of bombs onto
that already devastated city.
The Blitz just went on and on and on.

Also
, in my personal life, as if the war weren’t bad enough, it seemed that the Gods had much more in store. On 10 February, 1941 my father awakened in the middle of the night with chest pains. Mummy, naturally, fell to pieces. She ran to my bedchamber, screaming and crying. I groped in the darkness for a robe, and raced to the master suite. My father was conscious, but clammy, and his color was bad. He was having trouble breathing, and was complaining of pain beginning in his chest, radiating down his left arm, and up into the jaw area.
The symptoms were classic of a heart seizure. I knew that he needed immediate assistance and quickly telephoned for emergency help. An ambulance was sent from
Hartcliffe-with-Bedminster
. The medical workers were superb, and in short order, he was transferred to hospital in Bristol. Mummy rode with him, and I awakened Edwina, Nan, Helen and Martha. Then I dressed. Nan, Martha, and Helen stayed back at the house, to oversee the children, but Edwina and I took my auto and followed along to Bristol. We arrived at hospital about one o’clock in the morning, and then sat waiting for two more hours. Mummy was beside herself with hysteria, and acted dreadful about the amount of time that elapsed before we were able to see Papa. Finally, we spoke to his attending physician, and then Mummy and I were escorted into his room to see him. Extreme displeasure registered on Edwina’s face when she realized that
she
wouldn’t be treated as a member of the family. I didn’t care a whit.

When we entered his roo
m, the first thing I noticed was that his color had vastly improved. There was a nurse, checking his pulse and other vital signs, and he seemed to be resting comfortably. I leaned over the bed and told him that I loved him, asking how he felt.

“Oh, not so foul, really,” he replied. “Just very tired. No
more pain.”

“Oh Nigel, how could this possibly have happened? I’
m so terribly upset. Just all undone,” Mummy cried. “Please, please get better. I shouldn’t know what to do without you.”

“
Mummy, please try to be calm,” I whispered. “Hysteria is not going to help him. He needs peace and quiet.”

“Oh, what the
bloody Hell do you know, Sophia?” She shouted, turning on me with vengeance. “Just because you’re married to a doctor does not mean that
you
are one too.”

“No, that’s true
Mummy. I was just speaking what seems common sense,” I responded. I knew that it would not be wise to argue with her. Whenever my mother was criticized, she turned on whomever was nearest. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” I added.
It was always best to apologize. We didn’t need a rage.

“Pa
mela, please” . . . Papa murmured from his bed.

“I want a private nurse in here for hi
m” Mummy said. “I do not intend for him to be left alone for one moment. I surely cannot stay here day and night. There should be a private nurse here now. Where is she?”

”
Mummy, I’d imagine that private duty nurses are in somewhat short supply, due to the war. So many nurses are serving. I think we can manage if we all take turns, until we make certain that Papa is out of danger.”

At that
moment, the doctor entered the room, and Mummy began to badger him. “My husband is The Earl Somerville. I expect him to be treated with respect, and I want him to have the best care.”

“Countess So
merville, we like to think that all of our patients receive splendid care,” he replied.

“Yes, yes, that’s all well and good, but you and I both know it’s not true.
My husband is of the Peerage. That should count for something. To begin with, where is his private duty nurse?”

“
Madame, the nurses in this wing of the hospital are all especially trained in the care of cardiac patients. He is not in need of another nurse. Actually, I’m very pleased with his progress, and over-all I think he is in excellent shape.”

M
ummy raised her voice an octave. “In excellent shape? Surely you are joking? The man has just suffered a serious heart seizure.”

“So
merville did
not
suffer a serious heart seizure. We have conducted tests, and as best I can determine, he has some heart damage, but it is on the back side of the heart, which, if one has to suffer such a problem, is undoubtedly the best place to sustain damage”

“
My God almighty! Heart damage is heart damage, you damned fool. I want a private duty nurse. Period.” She was now shrieking. Next, she ran over to a bureau on the wall opposite the bed, and picking up a lamp, threw it. It smashed onto the floor. “Pamela, please…,” Papa moaned again. Then, he leaned over to the table by his bed, and yelled “Vomit.” I reached over and placed a curved basin under his mouth.

“Countess So
merville, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the doctor stated firmly. “I cannot tolerate these antics, and you are upsetting your husband.” He took her by the arm, which was a huge error. She pulled away from him violently, and slapped him across the face. I jumped, pulled her away, and pushed her out of the doorway. Mummy was screaming and had deteriorated to complete irrationality. Several nurses came running down the hallway. I motioned them away with a wave of my hand, and steered her to a bench. Edwina was sitting nearby, and her face paled when she saw what was taking place.

“
Mummy, you
must
calm down, this instant. Stop this right now,” I demanded, nearly as strongly as I’d ever spoken to her. One of the nurses ran over, offering me a glass of water to give to my mother, in an attempt to calm her. Mummy reached her arm out, and swept the glass to the floor. More shattered glass. Then, she rummaged around in her pocketbook and pulled out a small comb. She jumped up and literally attacked the nurse, digging the comb into her scalp, like a knife. It actually drew blood. The nurse screamed and drew back. “I am quitting this position,” she shouted, as she ran toward the nurse’s station in the hallway. At that point, Edwina jumped over, and taking Mummy’s arms, pinned them to her sides.

“Countess So
merville, that is quite enough,” she shouted. Mummy began to weep. I was delighted to see the tears, knowing that they signaled the end of her frenzied rage-state. Of course she didn’t apologize for her behavior, but at least she lowered her voice.

“I cannot take this,
Sophia. I cannot bear it. I must go home. You will have to handle this.”

“Yes,
Mummy. I understand.” I’ll stay here with Papa all night, if necessary. Edwina will take you home.” I gave Edwina a severe look, making it clear that I didn’t want any argument from her.

“Will you
make certain that he has a private nurse by tomorrow?” Mummy continued.

“Yes, yes. I’ll
make some sort of arrangement. Just go on home and get some rest yourself.” With that, Mummy leaned against Edwina and the two of them disappeared down the pale green hallway. I re-entered Papa’s room, and sat down in the chair by the bed. The doctor was still there, and I apologized profusely for my mother’s deplorable behavior. He was actually nicer than I might have been under such circumstances. He just patted my arm, saying that families were often overwrought when illness struck. He promised to do what he could about a special nurse, but said that it would probably be the next day before such arrangements could be made. I thanked him, and set about making myself as comfortable as possible for the remainder of the night. Most importantly, Papa was asleep.

At eleven o’clock, the
morning of the next day, a private duty nurse arrived, who seemed highly competent. She was an older woman, which probably meant she was unable to serve in the War effort. I felt fortunate that she was available and was terribly relieved when she entered the room. Finally, I would be able to go home and get some rest. I was exhausted. Papa was in quite good spirits, and the doctor who had visited him twice that morning, was optimistic. I kissed Papa goodbye, telling him that I would see him later in the day, and asked the nurse at the desk to call a taxicab for me. Naturally, I had already given my sincerest apologies to the injured nurse, who had gone home, but upon return said that she had reconsidered, and would not quit. She just would not have anything to do with Papa’s case. I couldn’t blame her. Things were settling into some sort of order and I allowed myself to relax a bit for the first time since Mummy had rushed into my room the previous night. Upon arrival at
Willow Grove Abbey
, I shed my coat in the hallway, and proceeded up the staircase, looking forward to a warm bath and soft bed. I encountered Edwina further down the hallway, toward her own suite of rooms.

“A
h ha, so you’ve returned. Thank God! How is Nigel,” she asked.

“He’s doing well. I feel opti
mistic. There’ve been no more chest pains. Of course the doctors are cautious, but things are much better,” I answered. “How is Mummy? Did she finally get settled down?”

“Yes, as far as I know, she’s still sleeping. She really is dreadful,
Sophia. I don’t know how Nigel has coped all of these years. It’s a disgrace.”

“Yes,
Sophia answered. But one might say that it has been his choice, then, hasn’t it?

“He feels sorry for her,” Edwina replied.

“Edwina, don’t be so naive,” I snapped. “Papa hasn’t left Mummy because it frightens him to think that secrets in our daft family would be let out for the world to see. It would also cost him an immense amount of money. He isn’t about to have to divide his holdings with Mummy, and there would be a horrible battle if he fought her in Court. Ever since passage of the
Married Women’s Property Act
in 1882, women are entitled to hold land and own property in their own right. Papa is well aware of that, believe me.”

“Nigel cares nothing for
money. He’d give it all up tomorrow if he could be free of her. She needs to be put into an insane asylum.”

“
It is probably true, Edwina that Mummy needs some sort of psychological help. But, no one in this family is going to commit her to anything like an asylum. It wouldn’t do you much good, anyway, would it? He surely couldn’t divorce her if she were to be ruled incompetent.”

“Well, then she should have a round the clock
mental health aide at
Willow Grove
. He could just get on with his life without concern for her.”

“Edwina, I’
m much too tired to get into a discussion about this. It’s a completely inappropriate conversation for you and me to engage in, anyway. This entire fiasco is so demented, and I’ve got enough on my hands without adding this to it. You may find that Papa isn’t so eager to continue his relationship with you, now that his health has been compromised”

“Are you accusing
me
of causing this attack?” She asked, incredulously.

“I’
m not accusing you of anything, Edwina,” I sighed. “I’m simply stating the obvious.”

“I think the
more obvious would be that Nigel may well reevaluate whether he wants to spend his remaining years with such an evil, disgusting human being”

“Edwina, you are speaking of
my mother, and I don’t want to hear it. No one is more fully aware than I of her problems. I don’t need to hear about them from you. You know only a small portion of the whole”

“Ha! Don’t start that nonsense again. I think I know a lot
more than you do.”

“Edwina, I find you pathetic. Do you think an orgas
m automatically opens your mind to everything there is to know about a man? Or his marriage?” I brushed past her, with the intention of continuing to my own room. I was very angry, and at my wits end. I wished Edwina would simply pack up Kippy and go to her own family. However, she stepped in front of me, causing me to stumble, and take quite a nasty fall. “Damn you, Edwina” I cried. I started to get up, and felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. I’d told no one, but I knew that I was nearly two months pregnant, and the stabbing pain panicked me. I continued down the hallway to my own suite, and Edwina never said a word. She just stood there, looking angry because I had managed to withstand her wrath.

Once in
my bed chamber, I quickly shed my skirt and sweater, which I’d hurriedly donned the night before, and Violet ran a nice, hot bath, while I had a lie-down. The pain subsided, and sinking into the warm water, I closed my eyes, letting my sore muscles be soothed. I was still shaken by the verbal confrontation with Edwina, but my mind was more appropriately drawn to my father and his illness. And of course, to my baby. I debated whether or not I should wire Spence and ask him to try to get a short furlough, and then immediately discarded the idea. It was really pure selfishness that even motivated such an idea, as it was I who desperately wished he could be at home with me. This was another time that I knew I had to act like a mature woman. I knew that this ordeal would have to be my burden. I’d not yet even told Spence that I was pregnant, as I’d wanted to wait until I was three months along.