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Evansmore

The Dame's Secret

By Jennifer ColePublished 3 years ago 11 min read
1
Photo Credit: Annie Spratt

Dame Evansmore lay in bed waiting for him to arrive. She nervously wrung her hands, looking about the mahogany room. She took in the beautiful decor and exotic keepsakes, saw how meaningless they all were now. Where she was going, she would have no need for those material items. She knew she had not much time and there was much to accomplish before she left. She could only hope it wasn't too late. People in the Manor thought she was a doddering old woman, senile at best. Oh she had her wits about her, she did. She may not be able to move around like she used to but she saw and heard everything. When she discovered the plans taking place regarding the Manor, she knew she had to act quickly. There were far too many secrets and too much at stake to lose the estate to anyone, especially that of her daughter-in-law and her grandson. There was only one person who she would ever leave the Manor to.

She heard a soft knock on the door and a man's voice call her name from the other side.

"Come in", she replied.

The man entered the bedroom, looking behind himself to be sure no one saw him. He closed the door behind and crossed the threshold. He smiled when he saw her, a huge boyish grin and he lit up the entire room with his prescence. She returned the smile, basking in his warmth but then remembered what he was there for. She pushed herself up onto the pillow a little more, motioning for him to come closer.

"Here", she said "everything you need is in here, along with extra money." She handed him the small black notebook along with an envelope tucked inside. The man began to protest, shaking his head but she nodded and said "Yes, yes you will. You have no idea what may happen and you need to be prepared. For me. For Rebeccah. Please."

Her hands gave a slight palsied tremor as she handed the man the notebook and envelope.

"Please, keep her safe. She is most precious to me. If anything should happen..." She choked back tears and tried to continue, her rheumy eyes moistened with emotion.

"If anything should happen to her" she again said, "all would be lost here."

The man took the notebook from her, slipped it into his coat pocket and knelt down beside her. She looked so frail, so whisper thin laying in the large bed. Despite her progressed age and her condition, there was still a beauty about her that lingered. She had an air of elegance, a regality. He took her hand, cool and thin, her skin almost translucent.

"Evelyne, I will do everything in my power to keep her out of harms way. On my life, I give you my word."

She smiled as tears escaped her eyes. "I know you will my dear, that's why I chose you."

He leaned forward and kissed her hand, gently releasing it as he stood up.

"You'll have to hurry", she said "the car just left with her."

He nodded and turned to leave. As he was just about to shut the door behind him, he heard her say, "We will see each other again."

Evansmore

“There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.”

― Mark Twain

Rebecca took out a tissue to blot her eyes. Again. She had wept off and on since arriving to the train station. She had also wept in the car on the way, tried to compose herself so as to not concern the driver. Now she was seated by a window, watching the blurred landscape pass at a gallop. Her eyes were still puffy and red from crying but no worse for wear, as she looked into a small hand mirror. She applied a little makeup to try to camouflage the dark circles under her brown eyes. Snapping the compact shut, she sighed and trembled with a mix of fear, excitement and exhaustion.

She made finally committed to taking a break away from Derreck after yet another argument.

He was overbearing and controlling and took her for granted far too often. And that anger! Recently, his anger had been erupting at the smallest of issues. He not only was boorish and caustic towards her but now to the staff as well. There were only three house maids left, two chefs and one grounds keeper that also acted as butler, one she believed to be close to leaving as well. The only person that came remotely close to controlling his anger was his mother and she was not far removed from her own issues. Rebecca just felt too alone and isolated, her only companions and confidants were Derreck's dear Nana and the Manor staff.

As she explained to her sister, "It's as if I'm a doll he keeps in a glass box on his mantel. He takes me down to brush the dust off, holds me for a bit and sets me back up there to be forgotten about."

Rebecca she made up her mind to leave, go away for a spell to see her mother and sister in Glasgow.

It would be at least a five hour trip, possibly six and there would be snacks, drinks and dinner.

She breathed deep, knowing this was the right decision. It would be helpful to their marriage, maybe frighten him into changing his ways.

She had left him a letter, expressing that she loved him but she must go away for awhile, so as to not go mad. She was tired of feeling like a prisoner and even more weary of feeling fearful. She would be back in a couple weeks or so, maybe sooner if he seemed at all remorseful.

She continued watching the countryside go by when she heard a server's voice not quite behind her, asking if she'd like a drink.

"Oh, no thank you, I've already had one."

He said, "May I buy you another?"

She turned and looked up, seeing it was not a server but a well dressed traveler.

"I do apologize, I didn't see you, I thought you were one of the staff."

He smiled and said, "No apology needed. I was watching you and thought you could use an aperitif."

She looked away, shook her head and said "No, really, I'm fine and thank you for your concern and the offer." Rebecca felt her cheeks grow hot.

She looked back at him. "Thank you."

He bowed his head slightly, "My pleasure. Truly."

He turned and walked back to his seat, Rebecca watching him, feeling a nudge of regret that she wasn't the teeniest more polite. After all, he was only expressing concern, something she may have done as well, had she seen someone appearing as distraught as herself.

She stood up and walked back to where the gentleman was seated. He looked up and smiled, his eyes impossibly blue. She held out her hand and said, "My name is Rebecca and I apologize if I was at all rude. As we both appear to be dining alone, would you like to have dinner together?" He continued smiling at her and she quickly added, "As train acquaintances, we're both on the train together and eating alone and....." She trailed off, realizing she was about to babble. That was something else that Derreck found intolerable about her. He was always chastizing her for her so-called "babbling" when she was nervous or muddled.

The man stood up, took Rebecca's hand and replied, "My name is Alexander, you can call me Alex and I would be honored to have dinner with you." He leaned forward and kissed her hand, all the while not taking his eyes off of Rebecca's.

She again felt her face grow hot, flushed and turned her head.

"Well then, it's settled and dinner is..." She looked at the schedule she was given when she boarded, "Six o'clock." She nodded in finality and smiled with satisfaction.

Not even an hour on board and she had already made a friend. Albeit a very handsome, very self assured friend.

Rebecca pushed those thoughts out of her head. It's better to embrace the company than over analyze it.

He smiled back and said, " Shall we meet in the restaurant carriage at, say, five- thirty for cocktails?"

Rebecca thought for a moment.

"Sure, why not? That would be nice."

That gave them nearly an hour of stagnant time. So now what should she do? Sit at her window seat and ignore this Alex until five-thirty? She decided to head to the powder room and figure out from there what she should do about her new friend.

"Well, please excuse me while I go freshen up."

She took her bag and walked back to the ladies room.

She should probably have her head checked. If her Mum and sister knew she was having dinner with a male stranger, on a train which she had booked to escape her unhappiness, they would be shocked.

And what of Derreck? What would he think of this six o'clock dinner date?

He would be furious, embarrassed and.... heartbroken?

But would he?

She was beginning to rethink her decision to have dinner with this stranger. This certainly wasn't helping her situation with Derreck and could very well add fuel to this fire.

As she was approaching the ladies room, one of the attendants tapped her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

She turned and looked at him expectantly, "Yes?"

He held out a single lily, the stem wrapped in a swatch of linen.

"Mr. Alexander wanted me to deliver this to you. He said to thank you for the invitation to dinner and he looks forward to seeing you in the dining carriage. He asked if you would meet him in fifteen minutes for drinks and conversation."

Rebecca's eyes widened as she took the flower from the attendant.

"Well thank you."

The attendant stood looking at her.

"What shall I tell Mr. Alexander?", he said.

"Oh! Umm.... Well, please tell him I will meet him in fifteen minutes. Thank you."

The attendant nodded and turned towards the doors of the dining carriage.

Rebeccca continued on towards the ladies powder room, confounded and at odds with herself.

She was thinking of canceling the dinner and now this?

'It's a train ride and dinner Rebecca, not finding a mate for life. When the train ride is over, you and Alex will part and go your separate ways. Maybe this is what you need, some company to keep you from drowning in your self pity. And maybe a little perspective too.'

She entered the ladies room and looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked tired. She would like to be somewhat presentable for dinner, after all, he was quite handsome and so well dressed.

Rebecca pondered her simple frock and decided she could dress it up a bit by putting her hair up and maybe a little lipstick wouldn't hurt?

She brushed her long auburn hair and reapplied her mascara. She swept a little crimson color on her lips. Rustling around in her hand bag, she pulled out a hair clip and used that to put her hair up, exposing her long, porcelaine neck.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Rebecca was moderately satisfied with her appearance. She wished she could do something about the sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. Derreck used to say her freckles made her look like a twelve-year old, especially when she came inside from the sun.

She peered at the time and saw it was nearly four fourty-five, almost time to meet Alex. She breathed deep and noticed her palms were slightly damp.

'Why are you getting so bothered by this? It's dinner, nothing more. So he's attractive. Okay. But you know what, when the train hits Glasgow, you and he can both clear off. You deserve to have a handsome, smartly dressed man buy you dinner, yes?'

Rebecca nodded to herself and stepped out of the ladies room.

Walking towards the restaurant carriage, the doors were opened by the same attendant who delivered the lily. He smiled and bowed slightly, "Ms. Rebecca, Alexander extends his deepest apologies. He was just called away to an important matter. He asked for you to be accommodated at his expense.

Rebecca looked around in bewilderment. “We’re on a train! Where could he possibly have gone?!” Rebecca looked incredulously at the attendant. She felt a mix of relief, disappointment and annoyance.

The attendant guided her to an empty table with a glass of white wine and a large envelope.

She begrudgingly sat down and picked up the envelope. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what was held inside and why. A letter? Why? She carefully opened the envelope and removed a small, black notebook. As she opened the notebook her breath caught in her throat. There looked to be at least $20,000 inside. Her hands shaking, she withdrew a letter that was indeed inside and began to read the words written by the one and only Nana, better known as Dame Evansmore….

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