“How was your trip into the village?” Colton asked over dinner that night.
Abigail was glad that he brought the subject up as she wasn’t sure how to do so herself without sounding as if she wanted to critique him.
“It was very eye-opening,” Abigail responded over their meal of roast pheasant.
“In what way?” the earl asked as he casually sipped his glass of wine.
Abigail spent the next thirty minutes of their meal explaining all that she had seen and experienced that day in the village. With each sentence, she spoke she saw the earl’s face become more and more grave. It was clear he had no idea of such things.
“I am aware of a Sir Edward Blanchard. He came to call on me shortly after our arrival. He seemed an honorable gentleman. I am sorry to hear that he has not treated his employees as well as it would seem. Although I suppose I must be equally ashamed of my family’s own treatment of this people.”
“I am sure your father was not aware of such matter. I couldn’t imagine he would allow such poor living circumstances to continue if he had known,” Abigail retorted.
Colton wasn’t sure if this was true, however. His father, like himself, had come accustomed to a standard of living. He may have been a kind man for the most part, but Colton wasn’t entirely sure his father would have been willing to give up his own comforts.
“I suppose the first thing to do,” Colton said as his mind worked, “would be to acquire a vicar. I wasn’t going to do so originally since I plan to leave soon and assumed you would do the same. I can see now that having one on premises is of the utmost importance.”
“Why would I leave too?” Abigail asked surprised by his words.
For just a moment she had an idea that he planned to take her to America as well. It wasn’t one she had considered until this second, but now that it came into her mind it was a little bit of an exciting prospect.
“To return to London of course. I assumed you would return to the society you are used to once I left for the new world.”
“Oh, yes. Of course, that makes sense,” Abigail said softly.
It was strange the hurt and disappointment his words created in her. She had known that this marriage was nothing more than convenience for the both of them. Even with that knowledge, she had hoped that they would not spend their whole life separate from the other.
If Colton planned to send her back to London, she knew that would be the case. She was sure there was no reason on earth that would cause Colton to return to town and the ton.
“Perhaps, I might stay though,” Abigail said surprised at her own words. “There is much help that is needed here. The village and people in it have not recovered from the changes. I feel it is my duty to stay and help create the change needed.”
Colton looked his wife over. He felt great admiration for her at that moment. She was not the type to idle away while painting fans, she meant to use her title and influence gained to help those less fortunate.
“I had planned to leave before the winter storms, but now knowing this about the condition of the area, I cannot leave in good conscious. I will plan to leave next year instead.”
“What about your land in Virginia?”
"It has kept these last two years without a visitation. I am sure it is fairly self-sufficient. It will keep well until I can make plans to get there.”
“So you will stay here with me?” Abigail asked a little unsure tone in her voice.
His wall softened just slightly at her words. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing to have Abigail here with him. By his side, Abigail could do the things that he was not able to on his own. In fact, without her presence, he would have never known how much the area was in need of recovery.
Things had indeed been better for him mentally. Though he still had regular nightmares replaying the events leading up to his injury, and he seemed never to lose the constant smell of burning flesh far from him, at least he had calmed in personality.
His uncontrollable fits of rage had lessened since leaving the city. He was sure the peace and tranquility of the country was just the medicine he needed to restore his mind.
“I would be most honored to stay here with you, Abigail,” he replied.
A small tingle ran up and down Abigail’s spine at the sound of her name on his lips. She had a secret hope that maybe as they lived together here over the next year, she might convince him to stay by her side permanently. If that meant here at Cumberton Park or in Virginia, she cared not.
They spent the next few weeks side by side each day as they acquired and then began to work in conjunction with the new vicar to see the needs of the community met.
The vicar was a Mr. Fitzwilliams. He was on the younger side. Abigail was happy with it. His youth seemed to give him the energy needed to accomplish the many tasks before them. Abigail spent much of her time now walking the village with Mr. Fitzwilliams and meeting with the various community members in need.
She so wished that Colton would accompany them to the village, but he always refused her requests. She understood why Colton didn’t want to leave the safety of their home. It was clear that the members of the village had a morbid curiosity over him. She feared that his unwillingness to show his face would only let their fears and superstitions take over them.
Colton wasn’t entirely happy to see the new vicar a youthful, handsome gentleman as was Mr. Fitzwilliams. He felt even less pleased about the prospect of his wife spending so much time in his charming company. He had to continually remind himself that theirs was a marriage of practicality and nothing more in Abigail’s eyes.
“I’d forgotten something,” Abigail said one night as they sat together in the library after dinner.
Colton was going over plans for new proper looking cottages for some of the most dilapidated. Abigail for her part was planning a dinner party to host Sir Blanchard.
Colton didn’t relish the idea of having the man back in his home, especially after hearing how he treated his workers, but a good relationship would be needed between the two men if Colton had any hope of improving the workers standard of living.
Abigail reached down into a small basket at her side. She pulled out a glass jar and reached it across to him.
“I got it that first time I went to the village. Mr. Smith, the man at the general store, explained that it is used for pain and soreness. I thought you might like it for your leg,” Abigail added.
“I completely forgot about it once we started making plans for the village. But today, Mrs. Smith, his wife who makes the cream, gave me a second jar thinking I was finished with the first.”
Colton reached across the small space between their two chairs and took the item from her. He let his fingers linger for just a second on top of hers.
“Thank you. I didn’t realize you noticed,” Colton said softly.
“Of course I did, why wouldn’t I?” Abigail asked surprised at his words.
Over the last few weeks as Abigail had worked closely with her husband it was as if they were working on mittens all over again. She had enjoyed his company and friendship so much in these last weeks. More than that, she began to feel for him more than just affection and friendship.
With every teasing word that slipped Colton’s lips she found herself secretly hoping he meant them. Every touch he gave to her, no matter how short or subtle, would send a euphoric chill up and down her body. She secretly wanted to be closer to him.
However, he still had that hard wall up around him. Abigail understood he had gone through a traumatic experience, but she had a feeling that his need to keep all others out had less to do with the scars on his face, from what burdened him now. She knew there was still more to this story that he had yet opened up to her about.
She was determined to not only find a way into his heart but also through that impenetrable barrier that he kept so tightly guarded around himself. Though she was happy that he had decided to stay the year and help bring back Cumberton Park to its former glory, she was more pleased in the fact that it would mean a whole year together before he would leave her. Perhaps in that time, she would convince him to do otherwise.