Chapter Four

"Essie, come here. Mr. Corbin will be here any minute now."

"Are you excited, Lena?" Essie said, coming around the corner.

"A bit, yes. We've never lived anyplace but here in the parsonage. This will be a new beginning for the both of us."

"What is he like?"

"Who? Mr. Corbin?"

"Yes."

"Well, he's quite tall, and he has a presence about him that exudes strength and leadership. He has a pleasant personality, and when he speaks, he commands attention."

"But what does he look like?"

"Oh," Lena said.

"Is he handsome?"

Lena had a difficult time answering that question.

"Well, is he?" Essie asked.

"He is probably the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life."

"Oh," Essie said with a giggle. "Does he have glorious hair?"

"Oh yes. And lots of it."

"And his eyes?"

"Large and penetrating…and a bit merry, too, I think. Blue like the blue of the sky after a thunderstorm."

"And his smile? Does he smile often?"

"I have not been around him enough to know if he smiles often, but when he does smile, it seems to bring the daylight right indoors."

"Oh, Lena. He sounds divine," Essie gushed.

"Silly girl, of course he sounds divine. I could describe a troll and you would think he sounded divine."

"Of course I would."

"Oh, here he is. Do you have a shawl?"

"Do you think I need one?"

"No, the weather is perfect. You shouldn't need one, I suppose."

Lena took Essie's arm and led her from the cottage. They reached the edge of the walk just as the carriage stopped and two men descended.

"Misses Osbourne," Mr. Corbin greeted them. "Allow me to present my partner and friend, Mr. Bradford Prescott. Brad and I served together in the war and became fast friends."

Lena and Essie greeted Mr. Corbin's friend as he helped them into the carriage.

"Are you ready to see your new home?" Mr. Prescott asked when they were seated in the carriage.

"Yes," Essie said, holding on to Lena's hand. "Lena just reminded me that we haven't lived anywhere but the parsonage, so this will be a grand adventure."

"You'll think so when you have to help me clean our new house," Lena added. "It is bound to be bigger than the tiny parsonage we just left."

Mr. Corbin laughed. "I promise it's quite a bit larger than the parsonage, but you won't have to bother with any cleaning. The house comes with its own staff. All you'll have to worry about is telling them what to do and they will do it."

Essie looked at Lena with a stunned expression. "We will have our own maid?" she asked.

Mr. Corbin smiled, and so did his friend. "Miss Osbourne, you will have several maids and footmen, a cook, a butler, and gardeners to care for the parks."

"Oh," Lena said softly. Suddenly, this was all too much, and it seemed as if she were Mr. Corbin's kept woman instead of his employee.

"What is wrong?" he asked.

"Your house sounds too grand, Mr. Corbin. My sister and I are not accustomed to living in luxury. We have never had much, nor do we expect much. We will be quite comfortable living in a small cottage."

"I'm afraid you will have to get used to more luxurious accommodations, Miss Osbourne. Besides, you will no doubt be so busy you will not have time to clean and cook and do all the things you used to do before. At least, not if you want time to be with your sister and read, as you have indicated you are fond of doing."

"I see," Lena said, thinking over the choices before her.

"Why don't we see the house first, then discuss our options?" Mr. Prescott said in a calming voice.

For the first time, Lena concentrated on Mr. Corbin's friend and noticed several things about him. He had a great many scars on his face and hands. It almost seemed as if he had been tortured, and whoever tortured him was an expert at causing pain.

Although very little of his body could be seen, she did notice that almost every exposed part was a mass of old wounds. And it seemed as if some of his flesh had been torn from his body. She shivered at the thought of what he must have endured.

"Are you chilled?" Mr. Corbin asked.

"No. I'm just trying to accustom myself to what might be ahead of us."

He smiled one of his heart-stopping grins. "Much," he said softly. "And we are almost there."

"I have a suggestion, before we arrive," Essie said, interrupting a tense moment.

"And what would that be?" Mr. Prescott asked with a smile.

"My name is Esther, but everyone calls me Essie. I would like it if you do also."

"I would be honored, Essie," Mr. Prescott replied. "And my name is Bradford, but my friends call me Brad."

"You have friends, Brad?" Mr. Corbin said with playful mockery, and everyone laughed. "And while my name is Jackson, my friend calls me Jack."

"You have only one friend, Mr. Corbin?" Essie asked.

"Yes, Miss Osbourne. My other acquaintances call me Mr. Corbin or Major, because they are my employees. I pay them quite handsomely to call me Mr. Corbin. And you, Miss Osbourne?" he said, focusing on Lena.

"My name is Magdalena, but my friends, of whom I have several, call me Lena. You may also," she said, "except when I am working. Then you will call me Miss Osbourne."

"Good," Essie exclaimed. "That is settled, and just in time. I think we are almost at our new home."

"How did you know that?" Brad asked in amazement.

"By the speed and the shifting of the carriage," she answered. "Being blind doesn't affect your brain. It only heightens your other senses."

"You are quite remarkable, Essie. Quite," Brad said.

"I wish everyone saw me as that," she said, then readied herself to descend from the carriage.

The horses slowed and stopped, and Jack alighted first while Brad did the same from the opposite side. Jack helped Lena to the ground, and Brad assisted Essie. When they had disembarked, Brad brought Essie around the carriage to stand next to Lena. She reached for her hand, and Lena gripped her fingers tightly.

They stood there in silence while Lena stared at the magnificent house before her.

"What is it, Lena?"

"Oh, Essie. It takes my breath away. It's the most splendid country home I've ever seen. It's enormous. A mansion. Is this yours?" she asked, turning to Jack.

"Yes," he answered as he led Lena and Essie to the entrance. A butler opened the door before they reached it. "Franklin, this is Miss Magdalena Osbourne and her sister, Miss Esther Osbourne. They will be staying here for the time being."

"Very good, Mr. Corbin. Welcome to Corbin House, ladies."

"Thank you, Franklin," Essie and Lena said in unison.

"Let me show you to your rooms," Jack said, then led the way to a staircase.

"We're in the foyer, Essie," Lena said. "To go upstairs you'll go right about six steps"—Essie did—"then reach out for the banister on your right."

Essie reached out and placed her hand on the railing. "Are there several steps, Lena?"

"I'd say about eighteen. Shall we count them?"

"Yes," Essie answered, then began counting as she took the first step. "That was a good guess," she said when she reached the top on the eighteenth step.

"Yes," Jack said from behind them. "Now, would you like a cup of tea before we go back down?"

"I would love one," Essie said, and Lena agreed with her.

"Franklin, would you ask Cook to send a tea tray to the sitting room?"

"Right away, sir," the butler replied. "And here's Mrs. Franklin. She'll take over until I return."

"Ladies, I'd like you to meet my housekeeper, Mrs. Franklin," Jack said. "She is married to my butler, as you might have guessed by now."

"How do you do?" Lena and Essie greeted her.

"Mrs. Franklin," Jack continued, "this is Miss Magdalena Osbourne." The housekeeper bobbed a polite curtsy. "And her sister, Miss Esther Osbourne." She curtsied again. "If there's anything you need, you have only to ask, and Mrs. Franklin will take care of you."

Lena smiled, and the housekeeper returned it, which was both pleasant and welcoming.

"First," Lena said, "I would ask that you provide my sister with someone she may call upon to help her find her way in the house, until she becomes accustomed to its layout."

"Of course. I think Betsy would be the perfect choice."

"Thank you," Essie said. "I assure you it won't take me long to learn where I'm going, but I have to admit that this is ever so much larger than anything Lena and I are used to."

"You'll learn soon enough," Mrs. Franklin said. "It took all of us time to learn its twists and turns, and we have perfect sight!"

Essie laughed, then turned to Mrs. Franklin. "Thank you," she said. "I'm ever so glad you didn't ignore my blindness. Most people either avoid me or they pretend if I can't see, I probably can't hear, either."

"Well, you won't find that here. We're pleased to have you with us. Now, would you like to see your chambers?"

"Yes, please," Essie replied. Lena let her walk beside Mrs. Franklin so she would know where to go.

"This first bedchamber is yours, Miss Esther. If there's anything you don't have, just let someone know and they'll get it for you."

"Does it have a bed?" Essie asked.

"Oh, yes, miss. A nice, big bed."

"Then it will suit me just fine."

"It even has a cushioned chair right here," Lena said. "It's close to the window, so you can feel the heat from the sun when it comes up in the morning or open the window to get a nice breeze."

"Oh, I've never had anything so grand," Essie said. "Thank you, Mr. Corbin. This is wonderful."

Jack acknowledged her compliment, then turned to Lena. "Would you like to see your room now, Lena?"

"Yes, please." She hadn't been this excited in a long time. "Are you coming with us, Essie?"

"Do you mind if I stay here? I'd like to memorize my room."

"Of course," Lena said. "We'll return shortly."

"I'll be here," Essie replied.

"I'll stay with her," Brad said. "I'll be here if she needs anything."

"Thank you," Lena said, thinking how nice it was of him to offer. Not many men would think to be so kind.

Lena walked to the door, but Jack stopped her. "This way," he said, walking across the room to a side door. "This will take you into a small room used by a maid, or as a dressing room."

"Oh," Lena said, stepping into the room. "How convenient."

"And here," he said, opening a further door into a spacious sitting room, "is where the lady of the house used to entertain close friends and family."

"Oh my. It's gorgeous."

Lena ran her fingers across a floral brocade sofa and two matching wing chairs.

"Through this door is your bedroom, Lena."

Lena followed him through the door and entered the room that would be hers. She paused and looked around when she entered. "Oh, Mr. Corbin, this is beautiful," she said, placing her hands over her mouth to stop a cry from escaping. "Ever so grand."

"I knew you would like it," he said.

"Was this your room?"

He smiled. "No, I'm afraid the décor is a bit too feminine for my taste. I slept in a room in the other wing, but as long as you and your sister are here, I will sleep at the club. I have rooms there. Because I spend so much time there, it's often easier just to stay there rather than come here."

Lena stepped into the room and took note of the paper on the walls and the furniture. "I see what you mean," she said, touching her fingers to the wallpaper's floral shades of rose, gray, and white. "The colors are just beautiful." Everything in the room was perfect for a lady, from the coordinated bedcovers to the rose-colored basin on the washstand. It clearly was not made for the exceedingly masculine Jackson Corbin.

Just then, Franklin announced that the staff had delivered a tea tray to the sitting room, and Esther and Brad were already there.

"Thank you, Franklin," Jack replied. "I'll show Miss Osbourne in. That will be all."

"Very good, sir," Franklin said, leaving them.

Jack extended his arm, and Lena took it. She knew she would have a reaction to Jack's touch similar to the last time she had inadvertently brushed against him. But she wasn't expecting the warmth that shot up her arm to be as strong as it was. The effect was almost overpowering.

She wondered if he experienced the same intense reaction. She doubted he did. Men did not have the same feelings as women.

She entered the room on his arm, then poured tea for everyone and served a charming plate of pastries. The four of them chatted for a time before Jack gave them a quick tour of the ground floor of the house.

Lena had never seen a home so lovely as Corbin House. Nor had she imagined that she and Essie would ever live in a house so grand. She considered herself one of the luckiest people on earth.

*

When they finished,they returned to their small cottage.

"Can you believe we'd ever live in a mansion so grand, Lena?" Essie asked, sitting at the kitchen table. "I could walk a full ten paces and not bump into a single thing."

"Never," Lena answered. "Nor did I ever think we'd have a staff of servants to wait on us."

"What do you think Mama and Papa would say?"

Lena propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms. "I think that both of them would warn us not to become spoiled with our newfound good fortune. Where we live and what we have doesn't make us different, or better than the least among us."

"You are right, Lena. And we can never forget that."

"Yes. Now, I'll go in the closet and bring out Papa's trunk and we can start packing."

"Very well," Essie said. "I don't imagine it will take us long."

Lena agreed. They had so few personal possessions, it wouldn't take them long at all.