22. ~ Desolated ~

CHAPTER 22

The green fields surrounding Forti Radici unfolded along our path. I urged my horse into a fast gallop, leaving the group of soldiers behind. The manor came into view, and my heart sped up. I was home. However, the sight tricked me into a costly illusion. For a moment, I could see Mrs. Allerton in the garden, chastising Mr. Leroy for not pruning the vines the way she liked them and Father helping Mr. Lewis to shine the already beaming Silver Ghost while discussing the latest news. Sadly, those were memories of a past that would never repeat itself.

I dismounted near the water fountain where my wedding took place. The once meticulously tended flowerbeds had been trodden under men's feet. I observed the ribbons Mrs. Allerton had dressed the garden with now scattered among the debris, and my chest constricted.

Alex caught up with me at the door. "It might be worse than you think," he warned.

"I'll be all right. I need to do this by myself."

"I'll check out the stable, then."

I sighed and stepped inside, then made my way from room to room, accompanied by the presence of death and destruction. Furniture lay strewn about, windows had been shattered, and bloodstains painted a vivid picture of the sanguinary conflict that took place. The profound sense of loss gripped me anew. Forti Radici had gone from being my haven to a place haunted by the deaths of those I loved. Though I'd had time to prepare for this, it felt surreal now that I stood here. I couldn't wrap my mind around it.

I fled to the stable in a trance. Thank heaven. It had been spared from the destruction. The aisles remained unobstructed, and the hay lay neatly stacked to the sides as Mrs. Allerton liked it. Alex and a few others moved busily about in preparation for the night. They inspected the horses, readied the stalls, and brought in fresh food and water for the horses.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Alex pushed a water trough across the aisle.

"Me too."

"We'll clean the house as soon as we are done here. It shouldn't take long with all of us helping. You'll feel better once it's done. But for now, check out the stall at the far end."

"Why?"

"Someone is waiting for you there." He smiled. "Come on. I'll show you."

I felt ashamed not to have thought about her and elated to see her again. "Sunny!" I kissed the bridge of her nose and laced my arms around her neck. "It's good to see you. So good."

"The rest of your horses must have fled during the skirmish. We'll ask around. Someone must have found them."

"Well," I said to Sunny, "I'm happy you know your way back home."

We were thorough in the cleaning process—washing and airing the house, restoring the furniture to its proper places, and discarding the broken items.

"Florence, come with me."

Alex's voice gave me a little start. So concerned about not ruining Mr. Grant's French bread recipe was I that I failed to hear his approach. "Can it wait?" I dropped the dough on the counter and rubbed my hands together to free them of the sticky clumps.

"Not really. The helpers from my parents' house have arrived. I would like you to meet them."

"Any word from our staff?" I missed them. They were part of the family, and their return would bring a sense of normalcy.

"Not yet, but don't worry. They'll pop up soon enough."

I observed the dough with pity. Mr. Grant would be disappointed. Unlike his, mine was thick, heavy, and flat to the touch.

"Are you coming?" Alex insisted.

"Yes, yes."

I washed my hands and followed him to the foyer, where a man and woman waited. The man was tall and slender with brown hair and large dark eyes that stared at me like a distrustful owl. The woman was good-looking, with short blonde hair and a nice figure. But when her gaze turned to me, I was taken aback by the coolness I saw there.

"Mrs. White, Mr. Vines, this is my wife, Florence Sterling."

"Nice to meet you both," I greeted. "Welcome to Forti Radici."

"Thank you," said Mrs. White curtly. "We are thrilled to be here."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Sterling. The Sterlings told us many great things about you." Mr. Vines shook my hand.

They would fill in for Mrs. Allerton and Mr. Leroy, though it felt strangely disrespectful to have these newcomers take their place. Although, Mr. Vines made it clear he was no gardener. He would only help around the house as a repairman.

"I don't recall meeting you." If I had, no doubt, I'd have remembered them.

"That's right. They weren't at my parents' home when you visited," Alex said. "They only work part-time."

"Most unfortunate." Mrs. White smiled awkwardly.

"Well then. Welcome again. I hope you'll feel at home here." I didn't miss the sharp glance Mrs. White gave me as I weaved my arm through Alex's.

"I'm sure we'll like it very much." She smiled again.

"Thank you for coming at such a short notice," Alex said. "I trust you'll know what to do around the place."

"Indeed, we do," Mr. Vines assured. "Leave it in our hands."

Portraying confidence and a sense of urgency, Mrs. White and Mr. Vines marched down the corridor.

I stared after them. Something about them set me on edge, something I couldn't place. "Are you sure we can trust them?"

"They have worked for my parents for years, and we never had any problems."

"Hmm . . ."

"I know it's hard to hire new people this soon. But let's give them a chance. Oh, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you in the library."

"You do?"

"Yes, come on."

Alex stepped to the side, letting me in first. Joy filled me when I looked at the man staring at me from across the room.

"Miss Contini!" He strode over to me.

I threw my arms around him. It was so good, so terribly good, to see him again. "Mr. Lewis, I'm glad you are back!"

"Oh, Miss Contini. Excuse me, I should say, Mrs. Sterling, I'm thrilled to be back." He glanced at Alex, who lingered on the threshold, looking pleased with the reunion.

"Where have you been, Mr. Lewis?"

"When the guests were asked to leave, I drove the Sterlings home. And they insisted I stay with them."

"I found out when I called my parents after we arrived." Alex moved to the window and signaled me to look through the broken glass into the yard. "Mr. Lewis brought another surprise with him."

"Goodness gracious! It's so wonderful to see it again!" I exclaimed, gazing at the Silver Ghost. My father loved the car, and it was now a connection to his memory.

"Still a beauty," Mr. Lewis said with pride. "Still a beauty."

"I didn't see a ring on her finger. Is she married?" I asked Alex as we sat in my father's office.

"Married? Who?"

"Mrs. White, of course. She's a pretty woman. Don't you think?"

"What's bothering my lady?" Alex put down the newspaper he had been reading.

"I wish I knew her better, that's all."

"With time, you will. But if it helps your curiosity, Mrs. White is a widow. Her husband, Frederick, used to work for my parents too. He passed away a few years ago."

"He did? He was quite young, wasn't he?"

"Late thirties, I think. Always sick, always in pain, he suffered from a rare disease. Poor fellow. Death was a relief to him."

"That's awful. I can't imagine what Mrs. White must have been through." I sympathized with her. However, the thought of the woman hovering perpetually in the background, as her duties would dictate, left me disquieted. I could only hope that in time, I would grow more accustomed to her presence.

We held two separate funerals, the first for Mrs. Allerton and Mr. Leroy. Saying goodbye to them was one of the hardest things I ever did. I missed them terribly. The following day, a bright Sunday morning, we paid our last respects to my father. Attendees flooded the parish grounds, having traveled from every corner of the country to bid farewell to General Marcus Contini.

A dozen soldiers dressed in crisp blue uniforms stood around the freshly dug grave. The ceremony opened with a series of shots that reverberated through the sky in respect for the fallen leader. The priest spoke briefly, followed by Alex's eulogy. Margaret and William Sterling remained at my side, providing emotional and physical strength as I wept and my knees buckled.

I watched as Alex and Colonel Swinger reverently retrieved the flag covering the coffin, then folded it over and over upon itself. My father's life had been like that folded flag—layer upon layer of knowledge, wisdom, and love—all of which had gone with him. All, except for the piece of his heart left with me through his affection and teachings. Alex extended the flag to me with tenderness in his eyes.

Among others, General Sterling, Colonel Swinger, and Captain Frankfort helped lower Father's coffin into the ground. General Contini would now rest peacefully next to his dear wife and son.

The final shots, saluting the great general, echoed through the air.

"Until we meet again," I whispered and pressed the British flag Father had so loved against my chest.

We were ready to depart for London. Thomas and Catherine, who had graciously stayed after the funeral to keep us company, left early in the morning. Only Alex's parents remained.

"Are you feeling better, my dear?" Margaret asked as we enjoyed the afternoon in the garden.

"I am. The funerals were heartrending, but my parents are together, and so are Mrs. Allerton and Mr. Leroy. I'm sure they are happy."

"Well said, darling, well said. Funerals are always hard, but we all need closure." Margaret reached for the teapot, and her gaze found the flowers on the other side of the evergreens. "Oh my, are those wild gladioli?"

"Indeed."

"They are so rare in these parts."

"It was Mrs. Allerton's favorite garden." Thankfully, it survived the attack.

Mrs. White came from around the hedge of evergreens. "Mrs. Margaret, I thought I would see if you need anything."

"Thank you," Margaret responded. "We are quite all right for now, right, dear?" She addressed me.

"Yes. Thank you, Mrs. White."

Margaret left her chair. "I must get a better look at the gladioli. They are so beautiful."

"Mrs. White," I called as she shifted to leave.

"Yes, Miss Contini?"

"Please, call me Mrs. Sterling or Florence," I reminded her for the second time.

"Yes, of course."

"Would you please tell Alex to join us for tea?"

"Certainly, Mrs. Sterling."

"Thank you."

Margaret returned from admiring the flowers. "Isn't she marvelous? Always so helpful. I don't know what I would've done without her. She nursed me back to health more than once. She is an angel in disguise," Margaret praised the housekeeper.

I smiled to be polite. Mrs. White might be an angel, but what kind remained unknown. The more I got to know her, the more I feared she had a dark side—and worse, that she disliked me.

"I must say those plants are priceless. Mrs. Allerton did an extraordinary job with them," Margaret observed, settling back in her chair.

I glanced longingly at the plants. I could almost see Mrs. Allerton wandering through the flourishing garden, quietly nodding in approval at the vibrant colors.

"I'm sorry, dear. I've saddened you with memories."

"Don't worry. It's all right."

Margaret took my hand in hers. "You must know that William and I always wished to have a daughter. And now we do. We love you as our own and are overjoyed to have you in our lives."

"Thank you, Margaret. I consider myself blessed to belong to your family."

"I must confess that there were moments when I worried Alexander would never marry."

"I know what you mean."

"Florence, he loves you more than anything in the world. You make our Alexander so happy, and I can't imagine how wonderful it will be when you have a baby."

"A baby—oh! I'm not ready for that."

"When the time comes, you will be." She sipped her tea, then spit it out. "Oh my, it's cold."

"Am I missing something?" Alex stepped into the garden.

"Just cold tea," I replied.

"We were talking about you two having a baby." His mother smiled at him.

"Sounds like a good idea." He winked at me.

Margaret giggled and shifted in her chair, ready to continue the discussion.

I quickly changed the subject. "I would offer you tea, but you won't like it. It's gone cold."

"I could use another cup. I'll heat it." Margaret left, teapot in hand.

"Were you asleep?" I noticed the hollows under his eyes.

"I was."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. You look like you could have slept a little longer."

"The exhaustion from the past weeks is finally catching up with me, but two hours was a good enough nap." He dropped beside me. "But seriously, Florence, if you want me down here, you don't have to be so drastic."

"Drastic? What do you mean?"

"Mrs. White traipsed into the bedroom before I had time to react."

"She didn't knock?"

"She must've forgotten that little detail, but I would rather think she did knock, and I didn't hear her."

"What happened?"

"I was getting dressed."

"She must've enjoyed that," I retorted.

"She didn't mind it, for sure."

"Stop playing games and tell me," I pressed.

"No, seriously. She stood there, and I hid behind your folding screen."

I laughed, but it wasn't funny. "I see. Your soldier reflexes came to the rescue."

"Thankfully. It was quite uncomfortable."

Our time in London was blissful despite Alex attending to his military duties. I couldn't deny that the past still haunted me, but the healing balm of the love between us helped me endure. After a prolonged absence, primarily out of obligation, we returned to Forti Radici for the weekend. Alex went to the study to work, and I strolled the gardens.

I rounded the corner of the house and froze. Was this real? I stared at the bare wall for a long while not believing my eyes. Then, out of the blue, the need to check on Mrs. Allerton's wild gladiolus gripped me. Again, I was dumbfounded. "I must've lost my mind." I blinked and blinked, but what I saw remained unchanged. I stormed inside, indignant.

Mr. Grant, Lucy, Mrs. White, Mr. Vines, and the new groundskeeper, Mr. Sawyer, assembled the luncheon in the kitchen. They looked up, startled, as I entered.

I met Mr. Sawyers's disconcerted stare and said, "Explain why you cut down the vines on the east wall and destroyed the gladioli garden?"

"Mrs. Sterling, I—" Stopping short, he found Mrs. White's eyes.

"I'm waiting."

"Mrs. White asked me to. I'm sorry, Mrs. Sterling. I simply followed her orders," Mr. Sawyer stammered.

"You!" I tried to keep my emotions under control, but my anger got the best of me. "Why the devil did you order such a thing?"

"Mrs. Sterling, I suggest you lower your voice. It's not appropriate for the lady of the house to behave like a wild creature in front of the staff," she answered.

"I'll tell you what is inappropriate—inappropriate is for you to lecture me. Or worse, do whatever you think is best in my house. Now, answer me. Why did you have Mr. Sawyer ruin the plants?"

She tried hard to hide her contempt for me, but her face betrayed her. "General Sterling told me to do it."

Lucy gasped. Mr. Grant dropped his fork. The groundskeeper looked at the stove.

"He would never do such a thing," I scoffed. "How dare you accuse him."

"If you don't believe me, ask him," she taunted, hands on her hips.

"I will, and while I do, you'd better gather your things." I left the kitchen, telling myself to breathe, to think about this. But I simply couldn't. It hurt me deeply to have lost the plants that Mrs. Allerton and Mr. Leroy loved so much. They had been a sanctuary to me—a place where I could recall happy memories and feel their influence. I flew down the corridors and into the study.

Alex sat at the desk, completely focused on a stack of papers.

"Did you order Mrs. White to cut down the vines and destroy the gladioli?" I said with an edge.

"Did I do what?"

"You heard me. The vines are gone, along with Mrs. Allerton's plants."

He met me halfway across the room. "Florence, calm down." He placed his hands on my shaky shoulders.

"You haven't answered my question. Did you or did you not?"

"I . . ." Awareness crossed his face. "Well, when we hired the new gardener, I told Mrs. White to trim the damaged plants so they'd grow back stronger. I wasn't thinking about the vines or the gladioli. It's just a misunderstanding."

"How can it be a misunderstanding when neither plant was damaged? Besides, she knew how fond I was of them. I find it hard to believe she didn't do it on purpose." I shrugged his hands off.

"We'll replant them. They are just plants," Alex said.

"Just plants!" I stared at him in disbelief. "How can you be so insensitive?"

"Florence, you are taking this too far. I'm sure Mrs. White meant no harm."

"Of course she didn't, just as I don't intend any harm by not dining with you tonight and not allowing you to stay in my room!"