Post by Nuala Bowtitt on Jun 26, 2008 9:06:59 GMT
THE WIND UP MERCHANT Part 2
He pulled the bell pull and the door was opened by a maid who invited him to step inside and wait in the hall. He removed his hat and stepped over the threshold. Once inside, he sneaked a look in the ornate coat stand mirror to make sure his hair was in place and his cravat straight. Just at that moment, a light tread on the stair made him turn his head and there was Jennifer, just as lovely as he remembered her. As they had not been formally introduced, he was unsure whether or not to speak to her but his upbringing dictated that it would be bad-mannered not to, so he stood up to his full height, bowed slightly from the waist and said ‘ Your servant, Miss Clover.’ She curtsied in return, just as Aunt Raine bustled into the hall. She said ‘ My dear, this is William Bowman from the Jeweller’s shop – and this, young man, is my niece Jennifer. I believe you have a little something for her.’
It was as simple as that. As though the Fates were on his side. As a well-travelled young man of prospects, his request to be allowed to call on Jennifer was granted.
Their courtship was heady and exciting. He’d known many women on his travels but he’d never known anyone as beautiful as Jennifer, not only in looks but nature, and his initial attraction turned to love as her personality unfolded before him. She was witty and clever, kind and thoughtful, accomplished in many ways and he was peacock proud to walk in the park with her on a Sunday morning, seeing other men eyeing him with envy. They were chaperoned on these occasions of course, but they managed to get precious moments alone in which to declare their feelings for one another. As for Jennifer, she was besotted with William. All of her plans evaporated to be replaced with new ones which all included him. She had never met anyone like him. He was strong and proud – ambitious too, and he swept her off her feet.
The day of her sister’s wedding arrived and Jennifer looked like an angel in her bridesmaid’s dress, a small aromatic nosegay in her hand and flowers in her hair. She had had a private talk with Evelyn beforehand to ask permission to announce her and William’s engagement after the bride and groom had left to honeymoon in the country house, which was part of their legacy. Evelyn was delighted at the not unexpected news, for William seemed a very upright young man and Jennifer was deliriously happy, no doubt about that.
Decorum demanded that there be a period of six months between the announcement and the wedding but Jennifer was so caught up in the plans for her perfect day that she hardly noticed the time. She was giving up all her old dreams for William but he was worth it and they would build new dreams together, a new life together. They would travel and yes, have children. They would entertain and socialise and they would spend precious time alone with each other. What a luxury that would be in itself. William was working really hard, long hours too and his conscientiousness was not without reward. Just before the wedding, he was made manager of the shop together with a hefty income increase. The house they were to live in would contain some very nice treasures, but William was her diamond and she would be the best possible wife to him.
The wedding day was wonderful, all they could have hoped for and Aunt Raine’s arrangements were immaculate. As the carriage pulled away, taking them to their new life, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.
The first months were idyllic and they both settled very happily into married life. Although Aunt Raine, herself, had organised the engagement of a cook and a housemaid for them, Jennifer ran the house beautifully as though born to it and the staff loved her. After the first six months had passed, the regular topic of conversation in the kitchen was about Jennifer being left alone again in the evening. William would leave the house at seven in the morning and sometimes, not return until nine at night. Jennifer knew how hard her husband worked, how ambitious he was and she also knew that he was being considered for the position of jewellery purchaser for the chain. She had gleaned this information in an argument they’d had one night on his late return. He was doing it for them, he said and if he did get the offer, it would mean many all expenses paid trips to exotic locations. Surely she had said she wanted to travel. Wasn’t this the ideal opportunity to mix it in with his work so that he wouldn’t have to have time away, when others may usurp his position? It wouldn’t be forever. She must be patient. Jennifer berated herself for having made his life more difficult and promised herself that she would be more tolerant. In the back of her mind, she knew that in four years time, they would have all the money they could ever need. She would get her inheritance and what was hers, was William’s. She mentioned this to him on one occasion and he became so angry, she was almost frightened of him. Was that what she thought he’d married her for? Her money? He and he alone would provide for them and she was not to mention it again.
Many times Jennifer would relive those first precious months with the man she’d married. She would look back on them and wonder how it was possible for someone to have changed so much in such a short time. He was becoming eaten up with ambition at the expense of all he said he held dear. They had a beautiful home, but he was never there. He had a beautiful wife but he had forsaken her in so many ways. They still shared a marital bed and how she cherished the times when the man that she still loved, came to her and worshipped her with his body so splendid. None of their unions had resulted in a child so far and Jennifer was desperate to become a mother. She had so much love in her but no one to give it to. Her Aunt Raine had a large circle of friends and was so active as to be out of reach for so much of the time. Evelyn and Edward had moved to the West Country and Evelyn was heavily pregnant with their second child, still supremely happy and very much in love. Young Richard had moved a little way up the newspaper business ladder and was already getting things published. She knew he would go far. He was so like their father. The thought pulled on her heartstrings and she felt a physical pain, once more, at the loss of her parents.
She needed her mother now but there was no one. The house was empty save for the maid and she was downstairs busying herself for her day off tomorrow.
‘William. I need you so much and you no longer even see me. Please, please come home.’
As if in answer, she heard the front door open and she ran into the hall, his name on her lips. He stood there, taking off his overcoat. She ran into his arms and he touched her hair, feeling the softness of it, the warmth of her body against his and in no time, they were in the bedroom, stripping each other in a frenzy of passion. ‘My darling one.’ he was thinking. ‘I know I neglect you but it’s necessary at the moment. I do love you still, even more, although you have no reason to think so. I’ll make it up to you, I swear.’ Jennifer heard none of this. Not only because he hadn’t said it aloud but because, even if he had, she was so caught up in her need for him and his obvious need for her, that any words would have been lost in the moment. Afterwards, as they lay in the candlelight, he told her he had to go away for a while and would she have someone to stay with her while he was away? It wouldn’t be possible for her to go with him on this occasion. He didn’t say why. He was going to South Africa and he would be away for three months. He said it as if it meant nothing. It broke his heart, really to leave her for this length of time and the choice had been a difficult one. He had been instructed to go on this trip. No, he would not be allowed to take his wife because negotiations with the diamond merchants he would be seeing were very delicate and his complete concentration was needed. Not only that, the terrain was inhospitable and the climate uncertain. If he felt unable to do this, they would send someone else. At that precise moment, he couldn’t see his obvious talents, his worth and the fact that any employer would be happy to have him. All he could see was a straightforward choice between his work and his wife. If he refused to go, he would lose all the standing he’d worked so hard for. He would be seen as undependable. On the other hand, he loved his wife and he knew she loved him. Three months was nothing in the larger picture. She would be there when he got back and their future would be that much more secure. At the time, it seemed a good choice to him. Later, on looking back, perhaps it hadn’t been such a good choice after all.
In the event, he was away for six months. During the first two, Jennifer found to her delight that she was carrying William’s child. Her joy was unbounded. If only she had some way of letting him know but his exact whereabouts were unknown to her. Still, what a wonderful surprise it would be for him on his return.
He pulled the bell pull and the door was opened by a maid who invited him to step inside and wait in the hall. He removed his hat and stepped over the threshold. Once inside, he sneaked a look in the ornate coat stand mirror to make sure his hair was in place and his cravat straight. Just at that moment, a light tread on the stair made him turn his head and there was Jennifer, just as lovely as he remembered her. As they had not been formally introduced, he was unsure whether or not to speak to her but his upbringing dictated that it would be bad-mannered not to, so he stood up to his full height, bowed slightly from the waist and said ‘ Your servant, Miss Clover.’ She curtsied in return, just as Aunt Raine bustled into the hall. She said ‘ My dear, this is William Bowman from the Jeweller’s shop – and this, young man, is my niece Jennifer. I believe you have a little something for her.’
It was as simple as that. As though the Fates were on his side. As a well-travelled young man of prospects, his request to be allowed to call on Jennifer was granted.
Their courtship was heady and exciting. He’d known many women on his travels but he’d never known anyone as beautiful as Jennifer, not only in looks but nature, and his initial attraction turned to love as her personality unfolded before him. She was witty and clever, kind and thoughtful, accomplished in many ways and he was peacock proud to walk in the park with her on a Sunday morning, seeing other men eyeing him with envy. They were chaperoned on these occasions of course, but they managed to get precious moments alone in which to declare their feelings for one another. As for Jennifer, she was besotted with William. All of her plans evaporated to be replaced with new ones which all included him. She had never met anyone like him. He was strong and proud – ambitious too, and he swept her off her feet.
The day of her sister’s wedding arrived and Jennifer looked like an angel in her bridesmaid’s dress, a small aromatic nosegay in her hand and flowers in her hair. She had had a private talk with Evelyn beforehand to ask permission to announce her and William’s engagement after the bride and groom had left to honeymoon in the country house, which was part of their legacy. Evelyn was delighted at the not unexpected news, for William seemed a very upright young man and Jennifer was deliriously happy, no doubt about that.
Decorum demanded that there be a period of six months between the announcement and the wedding but Jennifer was so caught up in the plans for her perfect day that she hardly noticed the time. She was giving up all her old dreams for William but he was worth it and they would build new dreams together, a new life together. They would travel and yes, have children. They would entertain and socialise and they would spend precious time alone with each other. What a luxury that would be in itself. William was working really hard, long hours too and his conscientiousness was not without reward. Just before the wedding, he was made manager of the shop together with a hefty income increase. The house they were to live in would contain some very nice treasures, but William was her diamond and she would be the best possible wife to him.
The wedding day was wonderful, all they could have hoped for and Aunt Raine’s arrangements were immaculate. As the carriage pulled away, taking them to their new life, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.
The first months were idyllic and they both settled very happily into married life. Although Aunt Raine, herself, had organised the engagement of a cook and a housemaid for them, Jennifer ran the house beautifully as though born to it and the staff loved her. After the first six months had passed, the regular topic of conversation in the kitchen was about Jennifer being left alone again in the evening. William would leave the house at seven in the morning and sometimes, not return until nine at night. Jennifer knew how hard her husband worked, how ambitious he was and she also knew that he was being considered for the position of jewellery purchaser for the chain. She had gleaned this information in an argument they’d had one night on his late return. He was doing it for them, he said and if he did get the offer, it would mean many all expenses paid trips to exotic locations. Surely she had said she wanted to travel. Wasn’t this the ideal opportunity to mix it in with his work so that he wouldn’t have to have time away, when others may usurp his position? It wouldn’t be forever. She must be patient. Jennifer berated herself for having made his life more difficult and promised herself that she would be more tolerant. In the back of her mind, she knew that in four years time, they would have all the money they could ever need. She would get her inheritance and what was hers, was William’s. She mentioned this to him on one occasion and he became so angry, she was almost frightened of him. Was that what she thought he’d married her for? Her money? He and he alone would provide for them and she was not to mention it again.
Many times Jennifer would relive those first precious months with the man she’d married. She would look back on them and wonder how it was possible for someone to have changed so much in such a short time. He was becoming eaten up with ambition at the expense of all he said he held dear. They had a beautiful home, but he was never there. He had a beautiful wife but he had forsaken her in so many ways. They still shared a marital bed and how she cherished the times when the man that she still loved, came to her and worshipped her with his body so splendid. None of their unions had resulted in a child so far and Jennifer was desperate to become a mother. She had so much love in her but no one to give it to. Her Aunt Raine had a large circle of friends and was so active as to be out of reach for so much of the time. Evelyn and Edward had moved to the West Country and Evelyn was heavily pregnant with their second child, still supremely happy and very much in love. Young Richard had moved a little way up the newspaper business ladder and was already getting things published. She knew he would go far. He was so like their father. The thought pulled on her heartstrings and she felt a physical pain, once more, at the loss of her parents.
She needed her mother now but there was no one. The house was empty save for the maid and she was downstairs busying herself for her day off tomorrow.
‘William. I need you so much and you no longer even see me. Please, please come home.’
As if in answer, she heard the front door open and she ran into the hall, his name on her lips. He stood there, taking off his overcoat. She ran into his arms and he touched her hair, feeling the softness of it, the warmth of her body against his and in no time, they were in the bedroom, stripping each other in a frenzy of passion. ‘My darling one.’ he was thinking. ‘I know I neglect you but it’s necessary at the moment. I do love you still, even more, although you have no reason to think so. I’ll make it up to you, I swear.’ Jennifer heard none of this. Not only because he hadn’t said it aloud but because, even if he had, she was so caught up in her need for him and his obvious need for her, that any words would have been lost in the moment. Afterwards, as they lay in the candlelight, he told her he had to go away for a while and would she have someone to stay with her while he was away? It wouldn’t be possible for her to go with him on this occasion. He didn’t say why. He was going to South Africa and he would be away for three months. He said it as if it meant nothing. It broke his heart, really to leave her for this length of time and the choice had been a difficult one. He had been instructed to go on this trip. No, he would not be allowed to take his wife because negotiations with the diamond merchants he would be seeing were very delicate and his complete concentration was needed. Not only that, the terrain was inhospitable and the climate uncertain. If he felt unable to do this, they would send someone else. At that precise moment, he couldn’t see his obvious talents, his worth and the fact that any employer would be happy to have him. All he could see was a straightforward choice between his work and his wife. If he refused to go, he would lose all the standing he’d worked so hard for. He would be seen as undependable. On the other hand, he loved his wife and he knew she loved him. Three months was nothing in the larger picture. She would be there when he got back and their future would be that much more secure. At the time, it seemed a good choice to him. Later, on looking back, perhaps it hadn’t been such a good choice after all.
In the event, he was away for six months. During the first two, Jennifer found to her delight that she was carrying William’s child. Her joy was unbounded. If only she had some way of letting him know but his exact whereabouts were unknown to her. Still, what a wonderful surprise it would be for him on his return.