Chapter Eighteen

Eliot and Marcelin walked arm-in-arm around the small lake in the garden with Lina on Eliot’s other side. With the midsummer day being warmer than usual, being outdoors in the too-warm breeze didn’t prove to be any more comfortable than being in the house.

“You’ve gone through all the papers?” said Marcelin.

Eliot nodded. “I’ve neglected my studies though; I didn’t want to be distracted by anything else.”

“I don’t know why,” said Lina, “but it’s funny to me that it’s a soap business.”

Marcelin smiled. “I confess, when Ruvane first told me, before we married, I laughed. And now it’s yours.” She patted his arm.

“Why don’t we use that soap?” said Lina.

“Mother won’t allow it,” said Marcelin with a sigh. “But to think, Ruvane’s house is still there. I simply assumed it had been sold.”

“You’ve been there?” Lina moved to stand in front of them as they stopped on the far side of the lake.

Marcelin faced the house. “After our marriage we went to Salmarin so I could meet Ruvane’s parents. I worried they wouldn’t like me, that made him laugh,” she said with a chuckle. “They were lovely, so welcoming.”

“What were their names?” asked Eliot, his voice soft.

“Joffrey and Arditha.”

“That’s a pretty name,” said Lina.

Nodding, Marcelin’s smile faded. “Joffrey wasn’t well. The physician told Ruvane his father likely didn’t have long to live.” She fell silent, staring at the gently rippling water on the lake. “We’d been there a little over two weeks when he died.” Closing her eyes, she took a shaky breath.

“Why didn’t you stay there?” asked Lina. “Madam Arditha would have liked that, I’m sure.”

Resting her hand on Lina’s cheek, Marcelin said, “You’re right, my dear, she would have liked that very much. We stayed another month, but we had to return here. That was the condition Mother insisted on before she’d agree to our marriage. Mother Arditha went back to, to live with her family.” She turned to Eliot, her expression one of pain. “I’m sorry. So much I should have told you, so much you should already know.”

His love for his mother, his refusal to hurt her, overshadowed any resentment that threatened to surface. “You’re telling me now. And we know she doesn’t make anything easy. My, my other grandmother, Arditha, is she still alive?”

Marcelin lowered her gaze. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “I lost touch with her.”

“You exchanged letters?” he asked, and when she nodded, he looked past her at Lina who’d narrowed her eyes. He wasn’t the only one, then, who suspected Climence. But he said nothing.

“She saw you, after you were born.” Marcelin’s tone was brighter. “Your father and I took you to meet her,” she said, her hand resting on her chest. “She was besotted with you.” About to say more, she shook her head, her smile fading.

Eliot’s expression hardened as a weight seemed to settle on his body. He had a grandmother who loved him, but was she even alive?

They stood in silence as the ducks floated by on the lake.

The sudden thought that his father’s house in Salmarin might hold clues to his grandmother’s whereabouts gave impetus to the idea he’d been planning to broach. “I’ve been thinking, since I met with Lord Lambert. Why don’t we leave here, move to Salmarin?”

Neither his mother nor sister spoke as they stared at him.

Finally, Marcelin said, “What about your training? You’ve worked so hard these past years.”

Taking a deep breath, he willed his voice to remain steady. “I’m going to talk with Uncle Bertran first, but. I want to learn my father’s business. I want to learn how to run it.”

Clasping her hands before her, Marcelin’s pride was clear to see. But it was tinged with sadness. “I understand, my dear, I do. But I can’t leave. I can’t explain, I simply cannot.”

“Why not? She doesn’t treat you well.”

“She’s still my mother.”

He couldn’t help the grimace that crumpled his face. “I don’t understand.”

“I don’t want to go so far away,” said Lina softly.

Eliot turned his frowning countenance to his sister.

“I won’t see Minette. And what about Uncle Leighton? After Grandmother was so awful to him the other day, how can we leave him?”

Barely able to contain his frustrated growl, Eliot marched away a few paces, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You can still go,” said Marcelin. “Whether it’s your training or learning your father’s business, there will come a day when you will leave.”

“I can’t leave you alone with her. Especially not with Garlon sniffing around.”

“I can look after–”

“No. That’s my duty. I’m the man of this family.”

“Oh, Eliot.”

“I don’t want to go.” Lina blinked rapidly, her mouth turned down. “And I don’t want you to go. I can’t bear the thought of not seeing you every day.”

Taking her daughter by the hand, Marcelin said, “It will happen one day, my dear, you know that. Change is part of life.”

“I don’t want things to change.” She tried to pull away, but Marcelin wouldn’t let go. “Let Lord Lambert or someone else run your father’s company, that’s what they’ve been doing all these years. And you can continue your training here. Tell Uncle Bertran you have to stay here for Mama’s sake.”

“Lina, enough.” Marcelin’s stern tone made Lina flinch. “Your brother will do whatever he decides is best for him. Neither you nor I will tell him what he should or should not do.”

Her chin trembling, Lina’s shoulders shook as she began weeping.

Eliot felt wretched, knowing he’d caused her tears. But the need to leave Deverell had a firm grip on him. Standing in front of Marcelin, he said, “Mother, please, consider coming with me. After you and Father married, did you never think of leaving? If Papa Dacey had wanted to leave, would you have argued to stay?”

Marcelin’s face went slack, her gaze unfocussed. “We were planning on leaving,” she whispered. “After you were born, we were going to live closer to Mother Arditha.” She raised tear-filled eyes. “He died. Your father died. I stayed.”

His chest tightening, Eliot embraced her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to cry.”

“I want you to leave, I do,” said Marcelin, her arms around him. Then she stepped back. “But it’s not easy for me to walk away from Mother. Try and understand. And as Lina said, we must also think of Uncle Leighton. He’s like a father to me. And Elisanna is like my sister.”

Breathing hard, Eliot ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. “Move to Uncle Leighton’s. At least consider that. Then I’ll know you’re safe.”

Marcelin seemed about to relent.

“You’ll still go to Salmarin?” Lina, clearly angry, glared at him. “You’ll still leave?”

“I have to–”

“You’re going to give up your training? That’s the same as betraying Papa.” By now she was breathing heavily.

“Lina.”

Ignoring her mother, Lina continued, her voice getting louder. “You said you’d become a trade advocate like Papa. And now you’re going to throw your training away for, for soap.”

“For my father’s business.”

“But Papa was your father for longer–”

“Enough.” Marcelin placed herself between them as Eliot, nostrils flaring, stepped towards Lina. “Enough of this, both of you.”

“If you leave, I’ll hate you forever.” In a flood of tears, Lina lifted her skirts and ran back to the house.

Eliot fought to bank the fire of his anger.

“You know she doesn’t mean any of that.” Marcelin suddenly sounded tired. “She’s upset. Give her time.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I’m glad you’ll be speaking to Bertran first to ask his advice. If you decide to go, I won’t stop you, you know that. And I promise I will give serious thought to moving to Uncle Leighton’s.”

Relief washed over him, and he embraced her.