(no subject)
Title: Bluebells and roses.
Chapter 17.
This is the next part of an AU/AU, a tribute to a great short story and a marvellous film.
Timeline: before the introduction chapter, we’re swimming between end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.
Thanks as usual to all of you who read and posted a review. It is so important for me.
Disclaimer: intellectual property of Ms. Proulx, no commercial use, no copyright infringement.
Special thanks also this time to my dear Beta Sam, her help and support is really precious for me.
The following week they decided to go to the cabin for two days. Ennis wanted to discuss something with Jack, now that he was sure his man was going to stay around.
They rode in silence, like they were attending a sort of ceremony, a voyage following the roads of memory. Their horses understood the situation, moving slowly, never trying to eat the new fresh grass at the sides of the path. Ennis’ young dog was the only frantic, running back and forth from the horses.
“He’s still too young,” Ennis explained. “His father was a great hunting dog, we’ll see.”
“In America few people understood the way we hunt.”
“It’s a tradition, Jack, but nowadays I’m glad I have two girls, so I shouldn’t teach them how to hunt.”
Ennis had avoided telling Jack that the cabin could be in bad shape; nobody had used it for four years. So a few days ago he had asked the butler to send a valet to clean it. Before getting a report on its condition, Ennis suddenly had to go to London for two days.
He tried to figure out a way to express his fears to Jack but it wasn’t necessary.
“Did you use it those last years?”
“Never. I gave Evans my rifles and refused every invitation to go hunting. I think he still checks them every month but I never asked him where he put them.”
“I’m sure he’s keeping them in a safe place, hoping to give them back.”
“Evans is a good man, we were lucky to find him three years ago. Alma was terrible and obliged two former butlers to resign.”
“But Mrs. Morley is still there.”
“She’s a part of the house. We’ be lost without her, Evans included.”
“She told me she still misses Lureen’s support a lot.”
“My sister was an exceptional woman. Dr. Stoutamire once told me he was surprised she had lived for so long and when I told him she had had Bobby, the old doctor had quite a heart attack.”
“I’d like him to visit Bobby, I’m afraid he could have some difficulties with his vision. When I show him a book he bends his head too much.”
“Don’t worry, when we’re back I’ll call him immediately.”
Later, they were sipping a cup of tea after dinner when Ennis got up and started pacing the small room.
“I’ve made up my mind. It’s the right time and I can’t wait much longer.”
Jack’s expression was puzzled, but he refused to comment.
Ennis took a long breath before speaking.
“I want to leave Alma. I’m tired of her and of our absurd marriage. I want a divorce.”
“Ennis, wait. I know how difficult it was for you to take a wife, but there are the girls.”
“Don’t you see, Jack, I don’t care about anybody else now. I want to stay with you, that’s all. The girls are my heirs and I’ll always love and take care of them. Now you’re back, I cannot bear to see you only at night or when Alma is away.”
“She won’t agree.”
“I know! I’ll give her what she wants, I’ll buy her another apartment in London, anything, to get a divorce. What else can I do?”
“Nothing, Ennis, if that’s what you want.”
“I absolutely want a divorce. Do you understand why?”
“Yes, I see.”
“You’re free now, I want to be here for you and our children. We could live at the house, people will have no suspicions because we both were married and have had children.”
“I don’t care what people say.”
“Me, either. I want us to travel and see the world, together.”
Ennis approached Alma cautiously; she surely was a difficult opponent. His strategy had been tested during many inner monologues during restless nights. He knew his wife’s reactions could hardy be predicted and her sharp tongue could be very dangerous.
He knocked at Alma’s private parlour.
“Come in.”
“Alma, I’d like to talk with you for a minute.”
She was doing some embroidery, a flower theme. “Please, Ennis.”
He sat on an armchair and cleared his throat before starting. “We have been married for four years now, haven’t we?”
“Nearly five.”
“Yes, nearly five, and our marriage was planned by our, wasn’t it?”
Alma nodded.
“My father was the most responsible of them and he got what he wanted. But now he’s dead I think we should have what we want, too.”
“It‘s an interesting theory, depending on what one wants.”
“I think you appreciate living in London much more than here, while I reject the idea of leaving this house for long periods.”
“There are lots of advantages in dealing with London society. For both of us.”
“I know, but I’m not the kind of man who is interested in it. My political duties are enough for me.”
“You seem to forget the importance of certain alliances.”
“I miss it, surely, but we have to be realistic, we’re too different to be good together. I could offer you a life in London if we can come to an amicable agreement for a separation.”
Alma didn’t blink, her breathing didn’t change. She was the portrait of composure and strength.
“A generous offer?”
“It could be so, if everything goes well and smoothly.”
“It’ll be a failure for us in any case.”
“I’m perfectly aware of that, but from every point of view, we weren’t made to be together.”
“My father was so eager to get rid of me he didn’t value yours’ offer so well.”
“Forget it, Alma, if we are careful enough we could work out all the details in a few months.”
“And what about the girls?”
She had hit the right spot.
Ennis was determined to keep his daughters with him and he hoped with all his heart Alma would refrain from displaying a fake maternal instinct. He was afraid she would soon send them to a private girl’s school to get rid of what she saw as two burdens. So he played his cards as best as he could.
“They are my heirs and will own this house one day. They must have the best possible education, although there are few colleges available, all of them very expensive.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I’m afraid the prices will be very high, especially if we send them as soon as they are six.”
“And you’d pay for that?”
“Surely, I want the best for them, ponies, dresses, everything.”
“It could be a good idea if you‘ll directly control their education.”
“It‘d be hard if they are in London with you.”
“If they would have better opportunities with your presence, I’d be glad to let them stay here. Except for the holidays, obviously.”
“Although you’re their mother?”
“You’re a patient father and Mrs. Morley is so reliable, plus there are so many servants here ….maybe they could have a governess.”
“I agree. We could search for one with appropriate references.”
It was unbelievable that Alma was so eager to leave her daughters, so Ennis started wondering about the real reason for her behaviour. He decided to hire a detective agency to get more information about Alma’s life outside their house.
TBC
Please add your opinion.
Chapter 17.
This is the next part of an AU/AU, a tribute to a great short story and a marvellous film.
Timeline: before the introduction chapter, we’re swimming between end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.
Thanks as usual to all of you who read and posted a review. It is so important for me.
Disclaimer: intellectual property of Ms. Proulx, no commercial use, no copyright infringement.
Special thanks also this time to my dear Beta Sam, her help and support is really precious for me.
The following week they decided to go to the cabin for two days. Ennis wanted to discuss something with Jack, now that he was sure his man was going to stay around.
They rode in silence, like they were attending a sort of ceremony, a voyage following the roads of memory. Their horses understood the situation, moving slowly, never trying to eat the new fresh grass at the sides of the path. Ennis’ young dog was the only frantic, running back and forth from the horses.
“He’s still too young,” Ennis explained. “His father was a great hunting dog, we’ll see.”
“In America few people understood the way we hunt.”
“It’s a tradition, Jack, but nowadays I’m glad I have two girls, so I shouldn’t teach them how to hunt.”
Ennis had avoided telling Jack that the cabin could be in bad shape; nobody had used it for four years. So a few days ago he had asked the butler to send a valet to clean it. Before getting a report on its condition, Ennis suddenly had to go to London for two days.
He tried to figure out a way to express his fears to Jack but it wasn’t necessary.
“Did you use it those last years?”
“Never. I gave Evans my rifles and refused every invitation to go hunting. I think he still checks them every month but I never asked him where he put them.”
“I’m sure he’s keeping them in a safe place, hoping to give them back.”
“Evans is a good man, we were lucky to find him three years ago. Alma was terrible and obliged two former butlers to resign.”
“But Mrs. Morley is still there.”
“She’s a part of the house. We’ be lost without her, Evans included.”
“She told me she still misses Lureen’s support a lot.”
“My sister was an exceptional woman. Dr. Stoutamire once told me he was surprised she had lived for so long and when I told him she had had Bobby, the old doctor had quite a heart attack.”
“I’d like him to visit Bobby, I’m afraid he could have some difficulties with his vision. When I show him a book he bends his head too much.”
“Don’t worry, when we’re back I’ll call him immediately.”
Later, they were sipping a cup of tea after dinner when Ennis got up and started pacing the small room.
“I’ve made up my mind. It’s the right time and I can’t wait much longer.”
Jack’s expression was puzzled, but he refused to comment.
Ennis took a long breath before speaking.
“I want to leave Alma. I’m tired of her and of our absurd marriage. I want a divorce.”
“Ennis, wait. I know how difficult it was for you to take a wife, but there are the girls.”
“Don’t you see, Jack, I don’t care about anybody else now. I want to stay with you, that’s all. The girls are my heirs and I’ll always love and take care of them. Now you’re back, I cannot bear to see you only at night or when Alma is away.”
“She won’t agree.”
“I know! I’ll give her what she wants, I’ll buy her another apartment in London, anything, to get a divorce. What else can I do?”
“Nothing, Ennis, if that’s what you want.”
“I absolutely want a divorce. Do you understand why?”
“Yes, I see.”
“You’re free now, I want to be here for you and our children. We could live at the house, people will have no suspicions because we both were married and have had children.”
“I don’t care what people say.”
“Me, either. I want us to travel and see the world, together.”
Ennis approached Alma cautiously; she surely was a difficult opponent. His strategy had been tested during many inner monologues during restless nights. He knew his wife’s reactions could hardy be predicted and her sharp tongue could be very dangerous.
He knocked at Alma’s private parlour.
“Come in.”
“Alma, I’d like to talk with you for a minute.”
She was doing some embroidery, a flower theme. “Please, Ennis.”
He sat on an armchair and cleared his throat before starting. “We have been married for four years now, haven’t we?”
“Nearly five.”
“Yes, nearly five, and our marriage was planned by our, wasn’t it?”
Alma nodded.
“My father was the most responsible of them and he got what he wanted. But now he’s dead I think we should have what we want, too.”
“It‘s an interesting theory, depending on what one wants.”
“I think you appreciate living in London much more than here, while I reject the idea of leaving this house for long periods.”
“There are lots of advantages in dealing with London society. For both of us.”
“I know, but I’m not the kind of man who is interested in it. My political duties are enough for me.”
“You seem to forget the importance of certain alliances.”
“I miss it, surely, but we have to be realistic, we’re too different to be good together. I could offer you a life in London if we can come to an amicable agreement for a separation.”
Alma didn’t blink, her breathing didn’t change. She was the portrait of composure and strength.
“A generous offer?”
“It could be so, if everything goes well and smoothly.”
“It’ll be a failure for us in any case.”
“I’m perfectly aware of that, but from every point of view, we weren’t made to be together.”
“My father was so eager to get rid of me he didn’t value yours’ offer so well.”
“Forget it, Alma, if we are careful enough we could work out all the details in a few months.”
“And what about the girls?”
She had hit the right spot.
Ennis was determined to keep his daughters with him and he hoped with all his heart Alma would refrain from displaying a fake maternal instinct. He was afraid she would soon send them to a private girl’s school to get rid of what she saw as two burdens. So he played his cards as best as he could.
“They are my heirs and will own this house one day. They must have the best possible education, although there are few colleges available, all of them very expensive.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I’m afraid the prices will be very high, especially if we send them as soon as they are six.”
“And you’d pay for that?”
“Surely, I want the best for them, ponies, dresses, everything.”
“It could be a good idea if you‘ll directly control their education.”
“It‘d be hard if they are in London with you.”
“If they would have better opportunities with your presence, I’d be glad to let them stay here. Except for the holidays, obviously.”
“Although you’re their mother?”
“You’re a patient father and Mrs. Morley is so reliable, plus there are so many servants here ….maybe they could have a governess.”
“I agree. We could search for one with appropriate references.”
It was unbelievable that Alma was so eager to leave her daughters, so Ennis started wondering about the real reason for her behaviour. He decided to hire a detective agency to get more information about Alma’s life outside their house.
TBC
Please add your opinion.