Beginning, Section II

Chapter 10--Who Is The Lady Of Delaford?

Ophelia feeling buoyant that Gabriel was once again her friend drove to Delaford whistling some inane tune. However this songbird was plagued with more sneezes and she had to stop driving at least twice in order not to run herself or anyone else off the road. She entered her office and grabbed her sack that contained everything she needed. Then Ophelia followed the shortcut through the servant's staircase and interrupted Tam's work in the kitchen by grabbing a Coke from the fridge. She mollified the territorial woman with a quick peck on the cheek and ran out the door. The older woman stared after the figure with the saddest look on her face as her conscience overwhelmed her hardened will.

The mistress of Delaford made herself home by settling in comfortably on the bench and put the finishing designs on the arboretum. With a satisfied gaze of a fulfilled artist Ophelia stared at her latest work. It will be lovely she thought. It will be a small jewel in her crown and it will stand as long as Delaford has its seat. Suddenly she felt the headache that has been plaguing her for a while return with full force. And it was indeed very painful, as she could no longer even see her sketch clearly. Moaning a little she laid down on the bench willing it to disappear but the throbbing grew only stronger. Soon she passed out from the migraine.

Ophelia sat up swiftly and immediately realized that something was wrong. Of course there was something wrong, she and Brandon just exchanged harsh words in regard to his joining the war effort against Napoleon. Marianne finally finished her sobbing as she tore an early lilac into shreds. The poor thing made a willing victim to her anguish and she indeed punished it with all her might. Her husband was leaving in two months to follow the trumpets of War. And no matter what she argued in order to prevent his departure Brandon remained firm in his conviction. Marianne panicked then and for the first time in their marriage a serious argument arose in which she was reduced to tears and he to misery. She ran out of his office and away from the house into the Hedges. How could she bear it? To not only be left alone but also be held hostage to the fears of heaven knows what! Her heart roared in pain of the imminent separation voluntarily caused by her husband.

It frightened her and touched her deeper that she held power over such a complete man. And that he in turn had the greatest influence upon her person was equally unsettling. But Brandon was not a fickle youth with only a winning smile to recommend him. He was a good man, a steady man with emotions that ran so deep Marianne at times felt like she was drowning in them. Her world was discovered in its fullness when he became her husband and in surprise she discovered he felt the same. In this their age difference had no influence and the two reveled in it.

Marianne and Brandon loved in their courtship and in their marriage their bond developed into one that surprised even Elinor. More than once did Marianne enter a room occupied by Brandon. And though he did not call for her he was about to do so. When she started a sentence more often than not Brandon could finish it. Two such disparate characters found themselves fitting each other in perfect unity and now both felt secure from every foible of their weaker natures. How could she bear to release him to this cruel world and its most horrific offspring named War? Could she even begin to imagine what her time would be like without him? Elinor once mentioned that Marianne never loved in halves and her sister was indeed correct. Marianne could never release herself to anyone without abandoning her boundaries and with her Brandon she could do so in safety. Now he was riding off to fight that short Frenchman and Marianne felt tears sting behind her eyes again.

He has chosen to fight over staying with her her pride needled mercilessly. But her conscience bade her to not shame herself with such immature thoughts. Brandon goes to war so he can come home and know that it will remain standing. He goes to fight so his children will never do so; to know the security of calling her his dearest. And if he can make such a dangerous sacrifice why can she not bend her will a little? Can she not control her fears and trust Brandon as with everything else? Her heart started to beat stronger as her will rose to this thought. She is the Mistress of Delaford and Brandon's wife. She must not show fear and worry everyone around her like she did once before. She will be strong and hold on until his return. She must.

Drying her tears and making herself more presentable she returned to the main house and found him still standing where she left him. His lovely head casted a downwards glance and Marianne knowing the story behind his every posture did not hesitate. She ran to him and without a sound threw herself into his arms. Brandon held his wife and felt her heart beat furiously into his chest. And his heart in return of gratitude matched her rhythm. He knew that marching off to war was not the most terrible thing. To wait for it to end while trapped in inaction was. And he had relegated his sweet Marianne to such damnation. But she was here in his arms forgiving him for this most unholy transgression.

"I shall wait for you dear Brandon and every day I will look out my window expecting to see your mare coming down the road. There will never be a day, nay, a moment when I will not be thinking of you husband. And know this I shall wait for you here from the moment you leave to the minute of your return with all my heart and soul. I will not fail and bend in worry. I will not give up in despair for I am your wife and with you I belong as nowhere else on earth, heaven or hell. So come back to me Brandon, and be by my side. Give me back half of my self which you take with you for without you I can neither find rest nor peace." Her voice was incredibly strong as she gave him these words for it came from underneath all her youth and was spoken in the absolute truth of her person. She felt his nod on her head and her grasp of him grew stronger. She felt his tears quietly bathe her head but it bothered her not. She loved him to this irretrievable point and he must know it. It will give him cause for a swifter return.

Brandon held his most precious thing on earth with equal strength. She meant those words he thought. I mean this much to her. Why is it that at the most distressing times do human souls rise to such grandeur? But he did not care to toss a fig to that thought for his heart and mind was consumed with his wife. His sweet Marianne.

Ophelia woke with a sharp gasp and found herself crying. Her dreams were taking on equal clarity as her waking life and for the first time she began to worry about her mental state. Why could she not dream about anything else? Why was she so fixated on that couple who existed over a hundred years ago? This was more than just her hyperactive imagination making furious and bizarre connections inside her head. And her worry about her safety finally began to clear her distracted mind. She raised her head and in total awareness for the first time she examined the center of the Hedges. One shocking realization followed another: There was nothing blooming here she cried out silently. There wasn't a single flower to be seen. And her logic whispered to her that there wasn't a single flower to be had anywhere on the estate. She never actually saw one rose, one wisteria or even a damn dandelion. No flowers, not one. Yet their scents clouded the air and bathed the whole estate in its waves.

The second realization came with an equal force, that she was not alone. Her feeling of comfort in Delaford was based on this sole fact. That she found herself in an undiscovered companionship with someone here and who followed her as faithfully as her own shadow. Even now as she sat alone in the Hedges she felt it, the second presence like some wet mist around her body and more importantly inside her head. What was happening? Her mind in a terrified jumble fell into its most basic instinct, since she can not fight, flee. Her legs moved her quickly and she ripped through the green walls only to find herself right back in the center. Ophelia moaned in fear, didn't she expect this just a tiny bit? Didn't she always know in the back of her head that this could happen if and when she became an unwelcomed visitor in Delaford? In the midst of all these terrifying thoughts she saw a ripple in the fountain. All her survival instincts screamed for her to run but her feet disobeyed her and she approached the now-calm surface of the water.

She has a lovely face, the lady of Shallott. The line from Tennyson's poem pinged crazily inside her head as Ophelia stared at the figure underneath the water. The same face in the sketch, the same face witnessed there over two decades ago by a crying boy. But this time the eyes were open and she matched Ophelia's uncomprehending stare. The lady of Delaford could no longer keep her grasp of her sanity and mercifully slid into unconsciousness. And Marianne once again closed her eyes.

Chapter 11--Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit

Author's Note: The title translates to: Out of nothing, one receives nothing. Please don't make me swear on the translation, my memory is nothing to be proud of. But the above motto is one that Farmer James would never have to know. For nothing is the last thing one receives from this misunderstood man.

Ophelia stirred awake as the sun was setting in the west. She moaned a little and pulled herself into the fetal position. Feeling every muscle rile against her for lying on the hard ground she sat up slowly. But her mind had no barrier of pain to deal with and she remembered what had passed in the Hedges. Her eyes slowly and fearfully raised themselves to the fountain. Nothing, no trace of what she witnessed but the scent of flowers still hung in the air. She gathered her stuff into the bag and cautiously made her way out of the maze.

Everyone must have noticed the scent she thought. How could they not question why the air was laden with roses and other exotics without the accompaniment of any flowers? Perhaps this was her delusion only and no one else was infected with it. Maybe she was privy to whatever is happening in Delaford to the total exclusion of everyone else. She also could not accept the fact that the whole staff was conspiring against her and made a choice to keep her mouth shut about what happened that afternoon. Anyway if she said anything about it they'll put her in a nicely padded room and feed her through a tube.

Most other human beings would have packed that afternoon and taken off but Ophelia was not an ordinary person. Her mind made exceptions in the thread of reality that no other could even begin to accept. And since she, herself was responsible for disproving many theories in architecture and constantly reshaping its rules she in turn could accept more variances in truths. As terrifying as her confrontation was with the ghost the aftermath drained much of her fear away and replaced it with her unending and borderless curiosity. She wanted to know why she saw what she saw. Moreover she wanted to know why Marianne if that was the lady indeed was still here. Perhaps suicide was the answer but Ophelia had a feeling that wasn't the total package.

She worked late into the night for a recent commission from a businessman in Canada. The clock rang midnight and for a second Ophelia felt her heart stop but nothing occurred to make her run. After the clock rang one and she was on her third cup of coffee Ophelia heard the piano again. She smiled softly to herself. It was so lovely! Then a frown became prominent in her face. There was something wrong with the tone of the music, not the music itself. The sound of the piano was thinner somehow and more tinny, as if the instrument itself was weak. After the first sonata was finished Ophelia realized what was indeed wrong with what she was listening to. It wasn't a piano but another keyboard instrument. Something between a piano and a spinet. She had been in one too many cocktail receptions to mistake that sound for a piano and her heart did stop for a second.

She began to violently sneeze as her cold reintroduced itself to her society. Quickly grabbing her medicine she popped a couple of pills and retired for the night. She was settling into bed when a thought made her bolt upright and turn on the lights. She stared at the lilacs in the vase. If there were no flowers on the grounds, where did those come from? That thought destroyed any restful sleep she could have had for the night and Ophelia was still awake to greet the sun when it rose in its innocence the next morning.

Gabriel was also awake when the sun rose but for a totally different reason. Tam's estimation of him was accurate if a little cruel. Indeed he wasn't smart in the educated manner and he did not have Ophelia's obvious genius but the man did not lack intelligence. It went untrained thus unrecognized by many but his farm was not in want of a smarter owner. After his fortunate meeting with Ophelia he had to admit to himself that his feelings for his new neighbor went beyond friendly interest and the truth scared him. But he was not a coward and Gabriel spent the night looking at the websites containing her information gathering fuel for his courage.

His focus is narrower than most but that was because he needed to direct his sights further into the future than others who did not have a farm to run. And he did the same with Ophelia Lambert and her presence in Delaford. He began to build the four walls in which he would lay his plans:

1. Ophelia wasn't going anywhere.
2. Delaford is definitely reacting to its new mistress.
3. The villagers cared more about Delaford's history than her.
4. She was in danger because of the above 3.

It was crudely basic but the four arguments in all its rudimentary shame were the unassailable truths. He decided from that moment on to wake up now at 4:30 in the mornings instead of 5:30 for he needed that one-hour to carry out his plans. Then he dressed for work and carried a ladder to his orchards to begin his daily checking of this sweet crop. His apples were in great demand in London and the buyers always looked for his bulky form in hopes of grabbing a share of his crop. For almost two hours Gabriel went through the rows of trees checking for any signs of diseases or pests. He could have easily assigned this duty to other workers but no one had a better eye in catching problems than Gabriel and he was no slouch.

The farmer saw the workers arrive slowly and finished his examinations of the apple trees to his satisfaction. Then he made his way over to the sheep pen. They bleated with uncaring docility as he checked their wool. It felt soft in his hands and he felt pleased with his herds. As if noticing his satisfaction they tightened their presence around his legs looking for food but he picked himself out of the pens and strode to where Sabbath was housed. The big horse stuck its head and gave an angry neigh. Gabriel ignored it for almost four days now and the horse was in a sore mood of neglect.

He brushed the horse into a good temper and rode him around the farm giving orders to the workers. It was business as usual for them but he had other plans. After 10 in the morning and his tea the owner of Ferrars Farm drove to the village and entered its only bookstore. The place was the first floor of an old house on Main Street with the owners living upstairs. He was in the stacks for only minutes but the clerk and the owner already noted his presence. Gabriel rarely if ever entered the place and they were very curious as to why he was there. He finally approached the owner and gave a nod of greeting.

"Good mornin' to you Gabriel. How can I help ya today?" Asked Thomas with more than a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"This is a strange request but I was wonderin' if there were any books on our new mistress of Delaford. I'm dyin' to see why she is so famous and all." His answer was well matched with a slow blush rising on his neck. Thomas gave an amused smile and looked at the database.

"There are 5 books in all, pretty costly too. Two of them I can't get anytime soon because they're available only in the U.S. but the other three I can tap from London. Here, take a look." The owner swiveled the screen and Gabriel read the list with its briefs on the books.

"I'll get all of them."

"That's going to be nearly 100 pounds. Are you sure?"

Gabriel gave an affirmative nod and paid for his order. Thomas was surprised. Farmer James never did anything frivolous so this was indeed going against his grain. After Gabriel left the owner stared at the screen. Maybe it won't be bad if he ordered a few more for the store. It's not everyday that a small village like this gets a world-renown person living in their midst. He added three more orders for each of Gabriel's.

Gabriel was fully aware of what was happening inside the store as he strolled down the street. Give someone the reason to be curious and they will never fail to be. Those books will be on display in the store and they will be bought in spite of their high prices. He was sure of it. Then this village will know her not only as a mistress of Delaford but as one of the world's greatest architect not only in her lifetime but maybe this whole century. They will realize her as a person in total and not only as the Lady of Delaford. Perhaps then their conscience will be pricked by all that is happening here for her and against her. Feeling much better he spent rest of the day focused on his farm. He could not realize the dangers that Ophelia was putting herself in with her actions.

Chapter 12--Byzantine Mazes

Ophelia begins her exploration and understanding of her new estate. However her discoveries will not only frighten her but lead to even more questions.

Since she was deprived of sleep Ophelia was doomed to be sluggish the next day. Angry and frustrated that now even her sleep was not her own Ophelia decided to strike back at the house in a certain manner. She swiftly found the house keys and a flashlight. Armed with those two important implements she began her exploration of the house including the abandoned wing. Ophelia was careful not to attract any attention from the servants since she wanted to do this unaccompanied.

The door to the abandoned wing opened noiselessly and she entered the carpeted hallway. Ophelia was constantly amazed at the history of Delaford. Each room had furniture that could be dated before the Revolution. It was quite remarkable for this American to actually touch, stroke and explore furniture that in a museum would be behind glass walls. Ophelia loved it, the silence, the history, the new pleasant discoveries and her angry mood from earlier disappeared.

She saw an ornately carved double door and swung them open. "Oh my G-d" she whispered. The room was huge and had two of its walls almost composed of windows. The drapes weren't drawn so the sunlight poured through the lovely space. The furniture was cherry wood and it was polished to a rich sheen. She wandered around the room opening drawers but found them all empty. Even the armoire held nothing. She was about to leave when she saw a small hanging portrait that was camouflaged by the rose wallpaper. She stared at it and saw it was a likeness of Marianne. This was her room Ophelia thought. A lovely and opulent tribute to this lady. It must have cost a fortune even back then but Brandon wouldn't have cared. Before she left the room she stared out the windows into the front of the house confirming her suspicions. It was the room where she saw the candle lit.

Ophelia went down the hallway to the servants' staircase and climbed up one flight to the abandoned servants' floor. Again nothing to indicate the history of the house and nothing extraordinary caught her eye. She paused and wondered where it could be but found it at the end of the hallway. She was looking for the staircase to Delaford's attic. Any house as old as this would have its history stored in the attic. And with some trepidation Ophelia gingerly climbed up the staircase to the highest level in Delaford. What greeted her would stay in her mind forever.

The room was the length and width of the whole house. And it was crammed with stuff long abandoned or preserved for posterity. She didn't know whether to go left or right so she went straight instead. She saw old bicycles from the earlier part of this century. Stacks of tennis rackets were accompanied by bags of golf clubs. She opened old and damaged armoires and discovered dresses from the flapper age and even older! Art deco pieces littered the floor like some abandoned toys. Ophelia could not believe what she was seeing. Is this what the rich do when they get tired of the old things? They just store them up here and buy new things?

This accumulation bore witness to generations of usage and waste. Ophelia could not comprehend the idea of just buying something and throwing it away with this carelessness but here was the evidence of such Byzantine living. And through this maze Ophelia made her discoveries. There was so much she wanted to bring down! Lamps, furniture, artwork, dresses and some of the loveliest mirrors she had ever seen. Her mind soon overloaded itself calculating the monetary worth of all she saw. Instead she pleasantly dreamt of redoing her bedroom and her office. She nearly tripped over a pair of rusted roller skates when she saw a large piece of furniture covered with moth-eaten fabric.

Part of her did not want to approach it because she recognized what it was. A piano. Finally she found the instrument that haunted these halls. But when she did stand in front of the instrument it became obvious that this could not be the one. The fabric was heavy with undisturbed dust and from the looks of it the instrument was also untouched for years. Her mind was busily knitting this pretty piece of logic but Ophelia pulled the cover off anyway. The instrument wasn't a piano but what was known as a pianoforte. A very close relation to the modern piano but it lacked the strength of its cousin.

She stared at the dust-covered lid. Obviously it was undisturbed for a long length of time so this couldn't be it right? Her hands did not obey her logic and she opened the lid. The black wooden keys were faded, the ivory ones were yellow with age but the keyboard seemed to be in a decent condition. However it still looked like it was untouched for years, decades, centuries her mind whispered.

Ophelia fiercely believed it with all her heart that if she struck a key then the lid would slam shut on her hand breaking it. With a solitary sweat trickling down her back she struck a key. It resonated perfectly. She closed her eyes and sat down. After couple of minutes she struck another key and that one resonated perfectly as if was tuned yesterday. Ophelia systematically went through the whole set and found them all in perfect tune. It was not possible! She desperately thought that someone might have tuned this since he or she was playing it at nights. But how then to replace the cover and the dust? That could not be explained away and Ophelia realized that this instrument had not been disturbed for years. No one played this instrument Ophelia; no one could without disturbing the layers of dust she told herself.

Another thought followed that disturbing one and she quietly made her way out of the attic to the safety of the occupied wing. She grabbed her car keys and drove out of Delaford without totally losing her grip on herself. She made it to Ferrars Farm and knocked on Gabriel's door. Fortunately for her he was in the house and not in the fields. He saw her pale and blasted face. Without a sound he led her to his office and sat her on his most comfortable armchair. Gabriel tried to leave to make her a cup of tea but she grabbed his forearm with such strength that he would discover bruises from her grip that night. He sat next to her and held onto her cold hands. Something happened but she could not even begin to express it out loud.

Ophelia realized as she sat in front of the pianoforte why there was so much stuff in the attic. The previous owners never left Delaford. They never moved out of the estate and their stuff migrated upstairs by their servants. It was not only the furnishings and the material goods that were replaced but the owners as well. No one left Delaford alive, no one except the first family the Ferrars.

Ophelia stood up and paced around the room agitated. How could she explain this theory of hers to Gabriel without scaring him? Coming to the realization that she couldn't Ophelia leveled her eyes at him and began to open her mouth when a sharp pain in her chest made her wince instead. The pain got worse and she gasped for air. The last thing she saw before the tunnel came was his face as he rushed to catch her falling body.

Chapter 13--Estrogen Brigade-A Humorous Interlude

Ophelia woke up to the sounds of voices in the room. She narrowed her eyes to make the figures come into focus. When she fainted Gabriel picked her up, put her in his bedroom and called the doctor. The man came within 15 minutes and checked her vitals. Nothing alarming but she did have a low-grade fever.

"More likely than not stress, bad diet and she's got one hell of a cold. It might turn into that flu that knocked ol' Jeff for a loop two weeks ago. This prescription ought to hold it at bay though. I think she'll be fine...ahh, the patient is awake I see. So how are you Miss Lambert? The truth now."

She gave a small smile and answered, "Feeling mighty stupid and embarrassed. I'm so sorry Gabriel about all this. Please call Joseph I don't want anyone to worry about me."

"He's already here. Waiting outside, do you want to say hello?" His voice was so gentle that she had to strain herself in order to hear him. Ophelia gave a nod and Joseph was ushered in. The fellow's face reflected his thoughts. She looked so small in the bed that she might get lost in it. "Don't worry Joseph, I'm better than I look. Could you get that medication filled for me? It looks like I'm going to be taking the real stuff now." He nodded slowly and exited the room. Gabriel followed the man and stopped him in the hallway.

"She's staying here Joseph. I'm not about to see her walk out of my door unless it's on her own two feet."

The man's face hardened perceptibly at this order. "Well now Farmer James I don't think that's proper. I'm going to get the Landrover and bring her home to Delaford. This place ain't her home you see and you're in the fields most of the day so you can't take care of her."

"You don't seem to listen very well Joseph. She is going to stay here until she is fully well and nobody is going to carry her out of this roof unless he be willing to visit the hospital for a long time. Do you hear me Joseph? I saw her collapse and it was ugly and I don't plan to ever see that again. If you want to send that Mary girl over that's fine. I have more than enough rooms to accommodate them but I ain't lettin' Ophelia go until I'm good and sure she's over this cold." Joseph did hear the iron in that voice and recalled the rumors about the violence that Gabriel was capable of and practiced when he heard that Eliza jilted him. The man was good head taller and a stone heavier than Joseph and the servant knew it. He gave a rough snort and left the house but in about an hour Mary showed up with bags.

Gabriel settled the girl down in the next room and he packed some of his clothing to move into a guestroom. Ophelia was watching him under the haze of her medication. "I'm sorry Gabriel to do this to you. I could go home..."

"No, I'm not hearing that kind of talk. I'm just movin' across the hall so it's no problem for me. Just get better because the doctor's worried about that cold of yours. And it is a nasty one to take Jeff out for weeks. Mary's comin' in so I'll say good night then." Without a thought he bent over and kissed her hot forehead.

She laughed a little. "Your beard, it tickles." He smiled and blushed at that statement and reluctantly released his patient to her maid. For the first time in weeks both of them had good sleep.

It was dawn when Mary went downstairs to realize that Gabriel already breakfasted and left for work. She entered Ophelia's room and saw the man also left some hot tea in case the invalid woke up early. Her pretty green eyes slowly filled with tears. This was so damn unfair! Gabriel was so nice and her lady was too...why did it have to be like this? She was privy to all the town's gossip and witnessed the farmer's loving care of the mistress of Delaford. The gossip could not even begin to touch the truth as she saw last night. Mary collected herself and read until Ophelia woke up nearer to the afternoon meal than breakfast.

She ate heartily, which was always a good sign and managed to sketch some before falling asleep again. Gabriel peeked in and saw her sleeping and decided not to bother her. Her coughing had died down quite a bit during the day and her sneezing all but stopped.

She woke up to see Mary staring out the window.

"What's so fascinating out there?"

"Oh nothing Miss, just the fieldworkers that's all." But the girl's voice was teasing and Ophelia had to smile.

"Mmm, I see. Any of them good-looking?"

"Besides Gabriel? Oh, a few. You know I use to have the biggest crush on him when I was fifteen. Thought him a god. I swear I use to follow him around in the village hoping he notice me or something. I never thought I would be in his house but here I am!" The girl ended the sentence lightly and Ophelia laughed out loud.

"And it wasn't just me. It's like a rite of passage around here for the girls to have a crush on that one. I mean everyone, and everyone who had a good set of eyes went after that man. Though I think you'd be the first to end up in his bed!"

The lady who held that honor gave an undignified snort, "Yes, in fever, sweating and coughing up heaven knows what. Real attractive let me tell you."

Mary wiggled her eyebrows and continued, "You want to know what we use to do? I mean you can never tell no one but I think it'll cheer you up!" Ophelia saw the conspiratorial air around the girl and gave an enthusiastic nod.

"Well, Amy whose brother worked with Gabriel here around ten years ago came back one day all fluttin' and everything. Spring came early that year and Gabriel was just beginning his west orchards, the one that borders the woods? Anyway she went to drop off lunch for her brother and said that no one, and I mean none of the field workers were wearin' shirts. And this included Farmer James! You can imagine what that did to a group of 15 year-olds! So we decided to take a peek the next day without anyone noticing us. That morning we got dressed in dark clothing and all. And we approached the orchards from the right where we were protected by the tall grass and let me tell you it was worth all the trouble."

Ophelia began to laugh in earnest. She could not imagine Mary in some fatigue getup slinking on her belly to see Gabriel sans shirt. The maid continued, "But the best part was that he wasn't wearin' some pants but shorts. And heaven help us but those shorts … Oh Ophelia you should've been there! I don't know how we got away with it! We were laughin' and talkin' so loud I could have sworn we'd get caught!" Both of them were hysterically laughing by the end of the last sentence.

There are two foolproof methods of vanquishing fear, humor and sex. And Mary, bless her innocent but lascivious heart amply provided both to fend off the darkness from her mistress. Ophelia could barely get in a breath of air between her coughs and laughter.

"And that wasn't the end of it. We decided the next day to approach from the south so we can get a better view? Anyway we did the same damn thing, slinked on our stomachs and this time Amy brought binoculars so we really got an eye-full. It wasn't until later when we realized that we crawled through a patch of poison ivy. All five of us were out for nearly a week and we couldn't explain how the hell the rash was all on our front but not our backs!!! That was the end of our adventures regarding that man but let me tell you even with the rash I still say it was worth it!" With the great comical timing only Fate can manipulate Gabriel entered the room as Mary finished that sentence.

He heard the laughter from below and came up to see what was happening. Mary took one look at him and dropped her head on her lap laughing like a madwoman. Ophelia wasn't doing much better and she covered her head with the blanket to keep herself from totally losing it in front of her host. Gabriel stood there with a puzzled smile on his face but none of the women were willing to talk at him so he left.

"What's goin' on up there?" Asked Harrison, one of the field workers.

"They're laughing like bunch of hyenas!" Gabriel gave a shrug of confusion for an answer but did feel better to hear her laughter echo in the rooms.

Chapter 14--The June Fair

May slipped by as Ophelia recuperated from her cold. She left Gabriel's care after four days and spent her time quietly in Delaford. However she did not venture into the Hedges until beginning of June Festivities. For three days in the beginning of June the village hosted a fair and carnival of sorts celebrating the coming of summer. It was considered to be great fun and was thoroughly discussed by every person. Ophelia only felt fair that her people get a day off so she gave them a Tuesday for a holiday. They were indeed very grateful and invited her to come along with them but she politely declined. They needed to be free of spirit and having their boss hanging around with them will dampen their mood somewhat.

The Tuesday came and Ophelia found herself alone in Delaford. Without fear she slipped into the Hedges and made her way into the center. She stood there taking in the scent and the scene. Ophelia believed that she had most of the pieces but knew that she was also missing some crucial ones. She took another glance at the key in her palm. That morning she woke up and discovered it next to the vase containing the lilacs. The flower arrangement was there for weeks now and she knew that they were the same bouquet that first showed up. By this time they should have wilted and died but they showed no signs of decay. It was a present Ophelia thought. And it was for me, dear Marianne...what do you need me to do? How can I help you?

She tucked the key inside her jacket. She needed to make sure of one thing - that Gabriel would not be inside his house today. Her Landrover roared to life and she drove to the fair. Parking her car in a safe distance she scanned the revelers to spot his Gaelic head. Suddenly his voice boomed from behind her. "Spyin' on your servants?" She nearly jumped a foot and turned around to face him. He stood there beaming his pleasure at seeing her and in all his finest clothing.

"Isn't that a bit fancy for a country fair Gabriel?"

"Nope, I am one of the sponsors for this so I get the right to choke on a tie for the whole damn day." The tie indeed looked uncomfortable and she gave a sympathetic smile.

"Well that's what you get for being on a board. What's going on down there anyway?"

"Rides and other things...why you've never been to one?"

"Oh yes of course I have Mr. James. Chicago is very well known for hosting country fairs and carnivals." Her voice though sarcastic lacked the bite and he gave a broad grin. Without further prompting he grasped her hand and led her down the hill to the fair. This was duly noted by everyone who saw the couple and ugly whispers were countered by kinder ones. But the couple did not notice any and even if they did they chose to ignore the whole thing altogether.

She was soon in the midst of the fun holding a huge thing of Coke and something that had a suspicious resemblance to a corn dog. Gabriel led her about and even reintroduced her to Sabbath who was currently giving rides to little tykes. The patient horse gave a tired neigh as he saw his master walk away as if to quietly protest his currently less-than dignified job. It was through this stroll that most of the villagers actually had a conversation with the new mistress of Delaford. Gabriel silently noted that her cough was still prominent but not as alarming. And it did his heart good that the villagers were reacting kindly to the woman. He also knew that her books that were on prominent display at the bookstore were all gone and there were orders placed for more.

She was led to an open tent where the local craft and ware were displayed for sale. Ophelia noted the traditional cut and designs on the wood and steel. Old, she thought. These works were taught from generation to generation and haven't changed for centuries. Again she was struck with the continuity of history to modern times and how they melded in such perfection. She was admiring a necklace made of copper when a young boy crept up to her elbow.

"I hear that you can design buildings and houses."

"Yes, I hear that too but I'm not quite sure if it's true or not." He smiled at her reply and handed her a stack of cards.

"Build me a house Miss. One with lots of windows and sky."

"Sebastian!" His mother cried out in shock as her son shamelessly demanded Miss Lambert to make him a house. What followed afterwards was talked about for years.

"Fine, can you get me some glue?" Gabriel was indeed surprised. She couldn't build a house with some old cards yet she was settling herself down at an abandoned table. The boy came back with glue and Ophelia began to straighten out the deck. People whispered to each other and came closer to watch.

Ophelia sat still for about a minute then her hand flew between the glue and the stack of playing cards. She imagined a house of sky and windows for a little boy and her imagination dissolved the onlookers as it took over Ophelia. She was alone now inside her head and everyone knew it. It was eerie and a bit unnerving but they knew they were watching pure genius at work. Slowly the deck of cards disappeared and in front of her a building made out of cheap paper became a magnificent testimony of her talent. In less than twenty minutes the deck disappeared and someone sneaked in another. Ophelia, immersed in her work did not even realize there was a fresh supply of cards.

If she thought that she was building a house made of cards, her work product would have been severely limited because the boundaries set by the poor resources would have curtailed her imagination. But Ophelia instead thought that she had to build a house and that the only readily available materials were the cards. By thinking the latter her imagination was unfettered and when she was on her fourth deck and finally done the house in front of her was a masterpiece. By the time the third deck disappeared the witnesses were silent and even Gabriel stood in awe. She never hesitated or stopped herself. In one smooth flow of motion and time she created a gorgeous work to please little Sebastian.

"G-d almighty, would you look at that? Never seen something like that..."

"But can it be real? Can a house be built that way?"

"Of course it can you silly woman. She's an architect and it's their livelihood to make houses like that on solid ground."

"I've seen many houses all over the land but I ain't seen one like that. No wonder people pay a king's ransom for her to build one of those things..." The whispers got louder and louder and they were all positive tributes to her talent.

Ophelia as if rising from a dream noticed the talk and blushed a little as she realized that she was the focus of the conversations. Gabriel asked her what she wanted to do with it and she turned to Sebastian. "Want to keep it? I don't have room for it in my house." The boy happily agreed to her lie and took the fragile work home with his mother holding the precious gift. The architect left the tent but the talks continued. They were wandering aimlessly when she turned to her companion and asked him how long he was going to stay at the fair.

"Unfortunately as you've mentioned before I'm on the board so I have to be here for a while longer. Want to join me for supper later?"

"I'm sorry I can't. I promised to have the preliminaries done for the BBC by the end of this week and I'm nowhere near it. Thanks for being kind to me today Mr. James. I'll call you later." She turned and quickly walked away from him before he even had a word in. Gabriel frowned as he looked after her. She just lied to him, he was sure of it. Why?

Ophelia felt her heart pound itself into pain but she drove to his farm. As she suspected no one was around and she hid her car behind his house away from anyone that might drive by. She tried the back door and found it unlocked. She was half-hoping that it wasn't but still walked to his study. She crawled underneath the desk and tried the key. She heard the old box click and had to pause for a second. The lid slowly opened and she began to search for something that she wasn't even sure existed. But she soon discovered a diary and flipped through the yellowed and aged pages. It belonged to one Elinor Ferrars and Ophelia thought she had the final piece. She slowly and carefully rearranged the contents to their exact place and closed the lid. Rushing to leave the room she noticed a plaque next to the doorway. Suddenly the air in the room became preternaturally still like the Hedges and the abandoned church.

She blinked twice reading what she thought was impossible.

"To Honor this Great Citizen Gabriel Ferrars James..."

This can't be. She felt her head hum a little and knew that she was about to hit the floor. She crouched down and dropped her head between her legs feeling the blood rush into her brain again. Ferrars, he's a Ferrars, he is in that family. His family didn't buy this farm, they inherited it. He belongs in Delaford...he belongs to Delaford. He is by birth its rightful master. The sentences echoed inside her head and she felt them to be right. Taking a deep breath she ran out of the room and into her car. Fear gripped her like never before. Until that awful moment she thought he was the one person she could trust. The one honest and decent man who could watch her back for her. But the discovery of his heritage destroyed all that. He was part of this, of all of this and she knew that she could never trust him again. He was involved...

She parked her car in front of her house and felt her anger rise like never before. She hid the diary in her desk and ran to the church like a woman possessed. She stood in front of Marianne's grave and began her tirade.

"What is it that you want? Why are you tormenting the living? Why can't you go to sleep you stupid creature! Don't you know you're dead already? Don't you know that nobody cares anymore?! And how the hell is Gabriel involved?! Answer me you stupid cow! Or I swear I'll leave here and sell the G-d damn place to a developer who'll turn this land into a Hyatt! You hear me?!!" The only sound that echoed in the place was her voice but Ophelia immediately knew that she was not alone. I yelled loud enough to raise the dead, she thought with a hysterical giggle. Slowly she turned towards the river and made her way to it until the water was visible.

Marianne stood there, in the middle almost as solid as the plants and trees growing on the banks. The two stared at each other; one the mistress that was, the other the mistress that is. And Ophelia felt pity for the creature.

I am she, and she is I. We both lost everything when we lost our husbands. In this miserable world we found our bit of the Garden only to have it ripped away from us. Is that why you are here Marianne? Is it because we are so much alike that you came to me? Did you love your Brandon as much as I loved Jonathan? Did you imagine him alive after his death so you can go eating for one more day? Did it hurt when you crawled into bed and found that cold empty space where he use to be? Did you hear his voice in the streets and in crowded rooms? And did you sometimes catch a glimpse of his face among total strangers? Oh Marianne tell me what to do. I am so tired and sick. Tell me what to do... The ghost as if to respond to her plea buried her face in her hands silently weeping. And her figure as if absorbing the water from the river became wetter, then she noiselessly sank into its waves.

Ophelia felt tears come down her face. There was no fear anymore-just desperation. Something has to be set right and fast though she had no idea what or how. But what she witnessed just confirmed her fears and knowing that Gabriel himself was somehow indirectly or directly involved spurred the urgency even further. Suddenly something lit inside her head and she ran back to the grave.

"Marianne Brandon, Beloved Wife" The quote was bold and plain as to state an obvious fact. Feeling her heart hammering inside her chest again she looked further and discovered nothing else. And she knew what was missing. She ran through the graveyard peering and examining every single stone confirming her guess again and again. About an hour later and exhausted from her exertions she sat on the riverbank and came to a conclusion. They sent Marianne a locket of his hair to console the widow. Why? Because his body was buried elsewhere. In those days there wasn't a way to transport a body for any great distance so they never brought Brandon home. He wasn't here, he wasn't in Delaford. He's out there somewhere... Brandon never came home.

Chapter 15--Escaping To Belgium

Time is running out for everyone...

She was indeed doing the drawings for the BBC's new building in Edinborough but was in no real rush. However it made a good excuse for her to lock herself in the office and avoid all contact with the servants. They thought this was strange but her behavior outside of her work was normal so they thought nothing of it. In fact she was planning to bolt from Delaford as soon she could without rousing suspicions. Ophelia firmly believed in the conclusion that she reached on the riverbank. And it proved itself true for there was no record of Brandon's burial in any of the church archives now located in the dusty basement of the local library.

She wanted to disappear without alarming anyone but her primary fear was Gabriel and for him. He was like a hawk regarding her whereabouts and there were many times in the village where she would "accidentally" bump into him in a store. It unnerved her and would have caused even greater concern but she knew him and believed that he was only worried about her. However this clouded his judgment regarding his own safety. She could not firmly formulate the connection between this farmer and her estate but whatever it was it could not bode well for him. Ophelia also found out from plentiful gossip that until her stay in Delaford he never even approached its grounds. That was very telling for her and she knew that Gabriel somehow instinctively stayed away from the place. That was until she showed up and now his presence at Delaford could almost be guaranteed. This frightened her and she would at times meet him in the village or his home to curtail his visits to the estate and keep him from some unnamable harm.

Ophelia made a big show of her work regarding the BBC building and soon people knew just by gossip that she was going to London and the visit will be for a while. She still had not opened the diary for she was yet unable to face the consequences of knowing more than she already knew. A part of her still wanted to deny what was happening and continue to live somewhat of a normal existence. If she read that diary and her fears and dreams were confirmed by a woman who lived over a century ago she could never get back to that line of sanity and reality. Where will she go then?

Late at night and now almost accompanied daily by the pianoforte music she researched in earnest the battle in which Brandon was killed. She made a one way reservation with British Airways to fly out to Paris in the middle of July amongst the bustling tourists so if anyone looked for her they would lose the trail in Paris. She would then rent a car, pay in cash and disappear. She knew that as soon as people realized that she was missing Silus will be called in and he was a dangerous man to fool. A sharp lawyer and with friends in high places he could track her down quickly lest she disappear totally. With this in mind she began to withdraw money when she visited Exeter. Cash, just cash as to leave no trace behind like a credit card. No one must follow her for it was doubtful that she would succeed in her endeavor and more so survive it.

It was slowly wearing down on her nerves to do all this in secrecy but it was necessary. And at times when she was tired and near tears she looked out the window into the Hedges to see a flirting color of blue behind the tall living walls. It was Marianne encouraging her and pushing her to continue this insane quest and Ophelia took heart from it. June left without many adieus and July arrived with the lazy heat.

Meanwhile Gabriel was becoming more confused every day. He did not understand why Ophelia was acting so peculiar. He did not expect her to marry him or even call him her lover in so short a time but her treatment of him was outright confusing. If she told him that she wanted only to be friends and nothing more he would have understood. It would have depressed him to no end but at least that was normal behavior. With her he had no idea where he stood; was he a friend, a beau or a comfortable blanket? Sometimes he felt like he was all three and other times he felt like a total stranger. Jim sagely told him that women ran hot and cold in ways men could not even begin to match. And in moments he felt that she did care for him a great deal. Of course this was miles away from love but at least it was a step. But there were times when he knew though she was standing next to him Ophelia was elsewhere by choice.

What worried him even more was the fact that the servants did not seem to know what was going on with her either. They just kept saying that the project with the BBC was driving her insane and locked away in her office much of the day. Besides this fact she was fine and her appetite was greatly improved. So in the end he just increased his vigilance and hoped that things would improve.

It was a hot day in mid-July and finding his temper dangerously short Gabriel left his work and visited Delaford. He was greeted with a bomb. "I'm sorry Gabriel but the Miss had to go to London. The BBC came up with yet more changes and she decided to visit them and give'm a piece of her mind. She left last night and said that she should be back by Friday. Do you want to leave a message or something?" He shook his head but asked bluntly where she was staying. "The Ritz if you can believe it. She says she likes stayin' there." He gave a frantic thank-you and left Mary standing by herself on the doorway. She knew she wasn't suppose to tell but Gabriel looked so worried and she had her own little voices too.

He rushed home and called the Ritz. Indeed Miss Lambert checked in yesterday and he left a message for her to call him. This was quickly becoming a situation he dealt with 13 years ago and his worries would not go away. She didn't call. He left no less then 4 messages for her but by the following afternoon he knew that she would never call. Ophelia vanished.

Ophelia met with the BBC people and it was a very pleasant and short meeting. They loved her work and the transaction was finished within the same morning. She already packed her bags in her car and parked the Landrover in a long-term parking lot. The hotel was already paid for 4 nights so she at least had that much time to do what she needed in London and fly to Paris. Ophelia hired a cab and stowed her bags in Heathrow. Then she returned to London to finish her research regarding Delaford. What she found was what she expected. Delaford and its village were a thriving place in the early part of the 19th century. But by the mid-century it was in total decline mainly due to the fact of continuous crop failure in the main estate Delaford. So by the beginning of the twentieth century Delaford no longer produced any crop and the village was reduced to 30% of its numbers in the beginning of the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution could partially take blame for this but she knew the fault did not totally lie with the oncoming of the iron horses and mechanical implements.

The village was dying slowly until Ferrars stepped up the plate basically after WWI and took total control by WWII. She saw the records of land purchases and the slow growth of this prosperous farm. Even their family tree was a matter of public record for they were a family of some note in the area. And Gabriel was indeed connected with Elinor Ferrars by the way of his mother who was born, lived and died on that farm. What surprised her greatly was that until Gabriel there were no first sons though there were plenty of second and third male heirs. In fact he did have a brother who died at childbirth and there were no records of any female siblings so he was the first and the last to inherit the farm. It made him the sole heir she thought and felt that frisson of fear.

Things are coming to head and I came in the middle. Somehow my presence threw things out of order and nobody knows it. Everyone thinks because I am a widow and a woman I am suppose to be here. But that wasn't the case, it was Gabriel who was intended, not I. It is Gabriel who is suppose to finish this. But if he is the male heir, the only legitimate male heir and the master of Delaford...there really was only one way he could claim his inheritance. The outcome of that thought was unacceptable and she slammed the record books shut. She glanced at her watch and ran to catch a cab to Heathrow. The flight was on time and in an hour she was headed towards Paris. She had to outmaneuver everyone including the one man on this earth who in a very short time will be in extreme danger.

Glancing around her to make sure of her privacy she slowly opened the diary and began to read Elinor's journals.

The dreams are becoming stronger and upsetting me even in my waking hours. I cannot wait any longer and begged Edward to take me away from this miserable place. He saw my distress and promised to take me to our farm by the end of today. My unborn child is threatened and I feel it though from where this threat originates I do not know. Edward is calling my name, freedom at last! I shall never return to this hellish place for it contains too much for me to ever bear.

She flipped back through the book until she saw the July entries.

We finally buried Marianne today though very few attended her funeral. It disappointed us that the village had rejected their once-beloved mistress in such cruel manner but since the stamp of suicide had attached itself to her death we were not surprised to see so few today. It has been only six days since we have lost her and our lives have changed so harshly that I cannot believe it has not been six years. Margaret is always crying and our mother is not doing much better. Only my Edward and the thought of my unborn child keep me strong.

That entry was dated July 23rd which meant that Marianne died on the 17th, five days from now. Ophelia knew that was the timeline that she had to work with and without any reprieve.

Gabriel reached London as her plane was midway over the Channel. He rushed to the Ritz and introduced himself as a friend of Ophelia. He lied to the front desk personnel and told them there was an emergency back in Delaford and that he left many messages for her to call back. His previous messages did back up his story and the manager went upstairs to her room. He came back with a frown on his face.

"I'm sorry sir but the lady seems to have left without our knowledge. The room is empty." Gabriel gave a hollow nod and walked to his car. He felt sick to the pit of his stomach and sat there holding the wheel. Ophelia was gone and he knew not where.

Meanwhile the focus of his thoughts was searching her bag for her medicine. She suddenly remembered that she left it on her dresser drawer at Delaford on purpose to fool the servants into thinking that she'll return by Friday. But in the rush of things she forgot to get a refill. Adjusting her seat into a more comfortable position she gave a frustrated and loud sigh. She didn't know it but she just let go of the last life raft in her illness. Ophelia didn't realize that the pain she felt in her chest was connected with the rare flutters she endured as a young girl. She was basically a healthy woman but her flu did greater damage than anyone realized. Before she came to England she visited her dentist and got a check-up. If someone had a normal immune system the bacteria in her mouth and those that were accidentally flushed down her throat would not have posed a threat. But with her constant cold that later became an infection her immune system was very weak so her heart valves became infected. With the light medication she was taking she could hold it at bay, without it the infection will spread and slow down her heart even further. And all she would think was that she was just fatigued or having a latent reaction to the medication. It would be very hard to detect unless someone was specifically looking for it and a person with no medical background would not even begin to suspect. But the threat was even more immediate than that. Her dietary imbalance and her huge increase of intake of sodium also had a negative impact in her system. She gained about five pounds while she was in England and thought it was because of the rich food. It wasn't, it was almost all water and her body wasn't letting it go. With her sluggish heart the blood wasn't pumping fast enough into her lungs and they started to retain water like the rest of her body. For the second time in the history of Delaford its mistress was drowning.

Chapter 16--Finding Brandon And Making A Fair Trade

Ophelia must find the proverbial needle in the haystack and Gabriel tries to make a deal with the devil...

Ophelia landed in Paris and rented an Avis car to Brussels. It was late at night when she arrived in the capital but she found a quiet B&B to hole herself in. The next morning she was up earlier than the owners and took the E19 to the battleground. It was heavily commemorated but the area was still pretty rural so she found herself alone. Standing there by herself with the sun barely peeking from the east Ophelia felt very lost. Where can she go from here? In this vast tract of land she is suppose to find his grave? The absolute ridiculousness of her quest hit her in full force but she resolutely refused to give up to despair.

Feeling silly she began to talk out loud to whoever was listening. "I am here because someone sent me. Brandon if you're there and if you're waiting as she is then answer me. I cannot do this alone and Marianne isn't here. Please Colonel help me. We don't have much time..." Silence reigned supreme and she felt frustration slowly crawl in her soul. Ophelia made her final attempt and took out her sketchbook. She had sketched various part of Delaford during her stay. Without hesitation she ripped the pages out and laid them flat on the ground like a small carpet. The sketches were incredibly detailed and exact in their penciled reflections of the country estate.

She thought: Here is my proof - Delaford. If you're here Brandon you must remember...come back Brandon. Marianne waits for you still. Suddenly she felt something underneath her right shoe rise a little from the thick soil and bump against the sole of her sandal. Her stomach heaved as she felt the motion repeated under her left foot. Jesus, what is this? Is he going to pop out from the ground? Suddenly the smell of dark and wet soil assaulted her nostrils and she closed her eyes tightly. She could imagine skeleton's hand rising through the grass then the ground stopped undulating underneath her feet. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the grass. She saw a...sparkle.

A frown carved itself onto her features as she saw 3 other sparkles strewn in a small circle around her person. She bent down and picked one up. It was a button, a brass button that once adorned an article of clothing. Ophelia suddenly realized what it was and picked the rest from the grass like golden mushrooms. It came from Brandon's jacket she thought with excitement. So he is here and aware. Poor soul, were you waiting all this time Brandon? But where are you? With the same desperate question echoing in her head Ophelia drove back to the B&B and poured over the map of the surrounding area. She wondered where proper burial sites might have existed during 1815. Of course there was no guarantee that he was buried in a church graveyard. She spent the afternoon rummaging around the neighborhood for clues but felt nothing click inside her head. The 13th sunk dismally and she had to give up her search for the day. Feeling more exhausted and worried she fell into a troubled sleep where smell of gunpowder and visions of men on horses dominated her senses.

The next morning she woke up and without a pause she once again looked at the map. The buttons were jingling inside her hand when she felt them leap inside her palm free of her movement. She nearly cried out in shock but stopped herself immediately. She shook them again and the independent motion repeated itself. Ophelia stared at the shiny things and then the map. Without even thinking she threw them on the map to see them land all in one exact spot. This was impossible for they should've spread all over the place. She once again gathered them inside her left hand and like a child about to begin playing jacks she threw them in the air. They again landed on the same exact position. Feeling light-headed she sat down and took a deep breath. The area was a wooded section 10-km south of Waterloo and from the map untouched by nearby villages or towns.

She took a shower and rushed out of her room. She stopped by a nearby store to purchase a small shovel and a pickaxe for she knew what had to wait for her. Driving south she soon found the abandoned road off the main highway. When her car could go no further she took off on foot with her implements and a large duffel bag. Looking around and finding herself alone she trotted off into the woods. Soon the sky became darker as the trees thickened. The woods were silent and she recognized this familiar quiet as one belonging to Delaford. Suddenly a movement caught the corner of her left eye and she turned to see a saddled but riderless horse staring at her from a distance of 50 feet.

It was nothing like Sabbath she thought. The thing was sleek and beautiful with a gorgeous saddle to boot. But why is it here? Did it get lost? She looked around to see if there was an unconscious person on the ground for the horse might have thrown its rider off. Suddenly she saw another movement and whirled to see the horse standing at the opposite side of where she first spotted him. Her heart came to a dead stop and for a second Ophelia felt an agonizing pain. The horse could not have moved so quickly and without a sound. She would have heard it walk over the branch-carpeted floor but the creature was encased in total silence. She knew then whom the horse belonged to and after almost a minute of waiting it began to move gracefully and noiselessly through the woods.

She followed it but lost sight of it as it trotted down a steep hill. She had to follow on her backside because the slope was at a great angle but when she reached the bottom the horse was nowhere to be found. However there was a clearing and she knew this was the place. The area was calm and quite beautiful. The headstones were mainly gone or destroyed due to neglect and the plot was tiny compared to the ones she has seen but somewhere in this forgotten place of the dead Brandon waited. She pulled the buttons out for the last time and blew on them like they were dice. Feeling hot and knowing that her fever was coming back she gave a laugh and threw them in the air with her eyes closed. She heard them land to her left and tracked them to one plot no longer visible because of the overgrowth of vegetation. The buttons were all there, neatly as if someone collected them and placed them in that one exact spot.

For the next three hours she dug keeping company with the dead. It was past noon when she finally saw the glimmer of white and dropped to her knees. Slowly and with extreme care she brushed off the dirt to discover a perfectly laid skeleton of a man about 6 feet tall. His left tibia was in fragments so she had to be extremely gentle in collecting the shards. She filled the hole with the soil and abandoned her tools to the forest. Running and feeling heady she made it back to her car. Before she started the engine she glanced up and saw the horse again at the edge of the woods calmly looking at her.

Back in Delaford

Gabriel was marching in its halls waiting for Silus to join him. He visited the lawyer while he was in London and told him what had happened. The gentleman advised him to return to Delaford and wait while he began his own search in London. His contacts in the city were more thorough and well-connected so Silus might be able to find Ophelia's whereabouts better than Gabriel could. Instinctively Gabriel knew that Silus' connections couldn't help them but waited with some hope anyway.

He heard Silus' Jaguar pull up the driveway but there was only one figure in the car. By this time the servants were alerted and they all waited in fearful trepidation for the man's arrival.

"We found nothing. She bought a ticket to Paris and boarded the plane but after that it's like she disappeared on purpose. There is no trail whatsoever and it's no surprise since she has nearly 3000 pounds in cash. It looks like she's on some kind of schedule and I do not know what it is yet. Any luck on this side?"

"No, as far as we know she was going to London to see the BBC people about her project and was planning to come back today. Nothing suspicious and her computer doesn't have any info either. Billy said it looked like she cleaned it out before she left. Her notebook and her sketchbook are gone. But she left her medication behind so she couldn't be planning to stay away for long," surmised Gabriel.

"Of course she could have created this elaborate plan to cover something very simple you know. I think we should keep looking around here. Whatever is happening with her is tied to this place so..." Tam thought out loud then suddenly stopped herself from talking further.

"You think we should drag the river Tam?" softly questioned Gabriel. The cook refused to answer and looked at the floor to hide her fears. And Gabriel raised his eyes now slowly shining with unshed tears of worry and unbridled hate.

"You never knew what was going to happen but you made sure of it didn't you? Bring her here, keep her here and tend to her like she was a thing, a creature not even human. Tell me was it easy to fill her head with nonsense about Delaford? To make her think of things that should have NEVER been raised under G-d's rule? To make sure she was curious enough to take those steps which you cowards would have never taken in your whole miserable lives? Well here's a real sinker for you. If she dies I can guarantee this village is going to go to hell and I'll be drivin' the delivery truck. I won't stay here and stand to watch you live while she lay buried under dirt and grass. If she dies Joseph her blood will be on us all for we could have stopped this. We could've." Then the tears came slowly and no one could watch such a strong man cry so they looked elsewhere only to find their conscience staring back at them.

The evening came for the whole village accompanied now with real fear. It felt like Delaford was the center of a maelstrom that was raging within the town. All its inhabitants felt uncomfortable and nervous and none had real sleep. The house was turning against them they thought and were too afraid to go out of their own doorsteps. One person though was oblivious to this sensation. Gabriel returned to Delaford and climbed in the window he left open earlier. He quietly took a candle and a holder with matches upstairs. His mother once said the heart of a house was its kitchen but its memory was in the attic. So he climbed dutifully up the stairs disturbing no one except the dead. He saw the opulent waste in the large room but thought little of it. All he saw in front of his face was the flow of rich black hair with sky-blue eyes. It took him a while but he saw the footprints that Ophelia left behind in the dust and tracked her to the piano. He set the candle down and lit it making a warm glow in the corner of the maze. Making himself comfortable he waited for he knew not what. The candle should call her or it Gabriel thought numbly.

His thoughts rose in a silent plea: I am here now. The last heir of Delaford. I am the master and I have come home. So whatever needs to be done tell me and I will do it. Set her free for she should have never been involved in this. I didn't think that she could go so far and I don't even pretend to know what she is doing but whatever it is I'll do it. I swear. I am here now and wasn't that always the plan? Wasn't that always what you wanted? Spare her.

But nothing answered his mental call and Gabriel sat in the attic feeling alone and abandoned. Suddenly and mocking him in all its cruelty Delaford blew out his candle and he was enveloped in the unnatural blackness.

The dark head dropped and he could no longer control himself. Sobs, ragged and harsh tore from his throat. It did not need him anymore, it had Ophelia.

Chapter 17--Homecoming

What can one purchase if one offers to buy it with all her tomorrows?

Ophelia spent the 14th doing things she thought she would never do in her life. First she returned the car to the airport paying cash and making the transaction very brief. Then she bought a train ticket from Brussels to London via the Chunnel for the next afternoon. The trip was very short, no greater than two hours. The biggest challenge was still ahead of her. How do you conceal a full-blown skeleton and smuggle it over the borders? She was walking in the city streets when the answer struck her. For the rest of the 14th she went shopping in the biggest and the most expensive stores in Brussels. Purchasing gifts and making sure the store assistants wrap them in their pristine paper and bow she was soon loaded with bags and boxes.

Returning to the B&B and forgetting to eat anything for the day she unwrapped the gifts with extreme care for none of the wrapping paper must be damaged. She dumped the silks, leathers and china into a garbage bag and began to distribute the bones into different gift boxes. Giggling in morbid humor as she finished her task she could not help but think Brandon would be less than happy at such treatment of his remains. Soon the boxes were reassembled and the rewrapped presents became pretty if somewhat bizarre coffins. It was perfect job and she sighed in relief. Her sleep did not come that night for she was in fear of what will happen tomorrow. She was counting how many felonies she committed while in Belgium and wondered if the country was Catholic. Because if it was the punishment and the jail time should be real severe for her crimes...

The next morning she checked out and took a cab to Brussels. She dropped the garbage bag containing those expensive presents right next to the donation box inside a church. She had to at least make some peace with G-d for her last 48 hours! Wearing her best and looking all flustered with her bags of presents she caught the eye of many men but none suspected that this lovely American committed grave-robbing during her stay in their country. She was escorted to her train by a courteous police officer whose reward was a truly grateful smile. Ophelia settled into her first class seat and her bags were put away with great courtesy by the Eurostar Staff. Few of them recognized that face and soon whispers spread throughout the train that the world-famous architect was in their midst. She was not disturbed for the rest of the trip.

The train pulled into London without trouble and she was shooed right through all the checkpoints. Pretty face, nice manners, and international reputation all contributed to her escape into the London streets. She took a taxi to her car and checked into a small hotel in the outskirts of London. It was nearly 10 PM before she found herself unpacking Brandon and transporting him into a more dignified carrier. She crushed the boxes and stuffed them into one small shopping bag which she later dumped in the trash bin behind the hotel. 15th ended with her in some contentment and 16 found her in a good mood. She checked out at 10 because she slept through her alarm and actually ate something before she began her trek back to Exeter. She also bought some antihistamine for her cold and water because she remembered that during illness fluids are a necessity. This just aggravated her condition to such a point that in Southampton she had to pull over and rest.

Ophelia then knew something was very wrong with her. The fatigue and the fever she could contribute to her cold but the pain and the pressure in her chest was independent of her flu. And they were getting more severe until today when she finally took notice. The sun disappeared behind black clouds and soon the weather broke into a tremendous storm. But even under such duress Ophelia made her way back to Delaford.

Delaford and area

The crew finally did drag the river but found nothing and had to abandon their work when the sky ripped open. Gabriel stood there in the rain willing Ophelia to show herself but nothing happened. It took Silus and Harrison to drag him from his spot by the river and to the safety of his farm. His people were in the farmhouse waiting for the storm to pass so they could continue their search but most of them knew that Gabriel believed her to be dead. It was unspoken opinion and no one dared to voice it but Gabriel's numb face confirmed it. They felt sorry for the man and even sorrier that she was gone. Meanwhile Delaford raged.

Ophelia was taking the right turn on a narrow road when the car skidded across the lane. It spun out of control and into the ditch careening off the trees until one big enough stopped it with a crunch. The whole front was now half its size and there was an explosion of the air bag detonating inside. One of Ophelia's bags flew from the back crashing out the front glass and the other hit her in the back of her head knocking her unconscious. No one heard this crash above the sound of the sky's fury.

It was nearly dawn before she finally came to. Her head felt like it was used as a baseball and she could not open one of her eyes. Squinting with the good one she peered out through the shattered windows and realized the time. Pulling herself free and feeling her body protest with extreme pain she grabbed the bag containing Brandon's remains. Her left arm was beyond numb and her left knee was throbbing but she continued mercilessly towards the church. She sacrificed everything for this and for Gabriel's sake. It will begin and end with her, not with him. She made it to the abandoned sanctuary and the mausoleum under the still pouring sky. She put her weight against the stone entrance and found it gave easily. Without hesitation she entered the small room and nearly fell down the steps. There was only one stone tomb located on the right resting on a pedestal about 4 feet from the dirt floor.

She gingerly tested the top and found the stonework also moved easily. Not wanting to look inside she quickly transferred Brandon into the tomb and closed the lid. Her eyes got used to the dark and she saw ivy vines that infiltrated the thick stone walls of the room. I bet they spread outside she thought and probably reach for miles from this one single room. Suddenly the sound of the rain lessened considerably and she thought it was finally letting up. When she exited the tomb the sky was a lighter shade of grey. But that was the only thing that was familiar. The landscape had totally changed for now she had a clear view right to the river where before there were bushes and trees blocking the same vantage point. And the church was whole again with its windows dripping raindrops.

What did I expect? she told herself. I brought this about and now I will see it to the end. What are you talking about asked her logic in a small voice. You're delusional; you're sick and suffering from a fever. You also had your head knocked silly in that accident so this isn't real...you committed grave-robbing and other crimes for nothing. Nothing. No, she whispered with tears coming down her bruised face. Almost dragging herself to the edge of the bank she waited to see. This is real for I made it real. I created this as much as I created Desdemona and all the other buildings in the world. My grief was the ruler, my anger the protractor, my will and my fear were the pencils - all of which I used to create this one moment.

Oh shut up! her logic fought back.

No. I will stay here and watch for I paid this day, this one single moment with all my tomorrows. I have the right because after this I will be no more. I can feel it, my heart...I can not even breathe right anymore.

Then the stumbling figure came across the river. Barely walking Marianne was soaked to the skin by the storm. Her lovely auburn hair was plastered to her head and back. She was suffering from a fever and her mind was full of jumbled and horrible thoughts. Ophelia heard them all.

Where are Edward and Elinor? Why weren't they here with her? Maybe they're somewhere else and are waiting for her! Marianne stopped and took a swift look around. Her gaze landed on the church and she smiled. Of course, it's Sunday and they were all in church! How silly to think they've abandoned her. And Marianne without thinking and even realizing what she was doing walked from the bank towards the raging river. The sound of horse's hooves reached their ears simultaneously and they both turned to look towards the rider. The horse was beautiful, Ophelia thought, as Pilgrim came to an abrupt halt. Brandon came running towards his wife who was teetering on the edge of the bank.

"Marianne! Stop!" His voice rang in their ears like some sweet bells on a wedding day. Marianne stood there with her eyes huge on her face. He wasn't...he couldn't...but he was here!

"Brandon?" she whispered walking towards him with her last bit of strength. He held her tight in his living arms and wrapped her in his cloak. His ship arrived in Weymouth but yesterday and he rode through what felt like hell to get back to Delaford. She kept repeating his name and he felt her fever churning underneath her skin but she was still alive and he knew that she could fight.

"They sent me your hair saying that you were dead. Oh Brandon..." she began sobbing in earnest on his neck and he sat in the rain holding his wife, rocking her to some comfort while he tried to stop his own tears. After a while he raised his eyes and saw a slim figure across the bank watching them. She was almost like a ghost - so pale with dark hair. Somehow she looked familiar but Brandon could not place her name. Then the figure as if realizing this was a private moment slowly walked away in a halting manner and never looked back.

Ophelia raised her eyes to heaven and smiled in triumph. We defied everything in heaven and hell Marianne. We did it and you are free. You kept your word for nearly two hundred years until someone came and finished it for you. Sleep now, rest now and let this world be. We love, you and I, like no other and we have proven it to this and all the worlds that ever cared to see. Let this world go sweet lady and rest with your beloved. For he like you kept his side of the bargain and is tired from his journey.

She sat down on the entrance of the tomb and sighed a little. Now perhaps she too can get some rest. Her eyes closed and her breaths became shallower as Ophelia's heart began to slowly let go.

The group around the smashed car was huge but Gabriel blew through the throngs and saw the mess of what used to be her Landrover. His jaw dropped open as he realized that she wasn't in it or anywhere near it. How could any human being survive this crash? He saw the same question on the expressions of the other faces and began to jog towards the main house slowly exploding into a full run. His legs pumped quickly and he reached Delaford's front entrance in no time. Gabriel threw open the front door of mansion shouting her name. There was no answer and he knew the house was abandoned.

Running out the kitchen door he reached the Hedges then stopped. Relinquishing his old horrors for new ones he made a mad dash into its corridors. In less than a minute he was in the center but Ophelia wasn't there. However the place had changed. There were wisteria hanging from the vines on the trellis. There were roses blooming from their bushes and other flowers all coming to life inside the Hedges. Gabriel moaned out loud. For Delaford is coming back and life is beginning again. But like with any circle of existence on this earth, for every life there must be a death.

Without hesitation he ran out of the maze and saw the wooded path that led to the river. Realizing that no one was there yet he trampled the muddy walk until he heard its roar. Gabriel was still running when something caught his left eye. He slowly stopped himself and stared at the church across the river.

She is the Lady of Delaford, his mind whispered. So Gabriel where could she be but there inside the cold tomb? After all you showed it to her. Tears would have fallen from him had he not used them up days ago. She must be soaked, he mused as his heart chipped away his sanity with its thoughts. Ophelia must be cold by now and I have to bring her home. Without engaging in any other logic he reached the bank and slowly began his way across the raging and unfed river.

Chapter 18--In The End

A better man said this so I'll bow to him and quote from his great work, "Far from the Madding Crowd". "But since 'tis as 'tis why, it might have been worse, and I feel my thanks accordingly."

No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;

- Othello

Gabriel almost made it third of the way before the current tugged him down like a living creature. The nymphs if they do exist would not shun such a handsome mortal for their pleasure but the victim was far more determined to bring Ophelia back home. He had ridden dangerous currents before as a boy and knew better than to struggle. He sunk the different depths until he found one level weak enough. Tracing that line of flow he made it to the opposite bank and began climbing the ground. He was pulled back no less than twice for the river would not relinquish easily such a grand catch. Grabbing the reeds on the bank and taking care to not become entangled in their waving hair he crawled his way out of the river.

He didn't even bother taking deep breaths and made a dash to the mausoleum. Gabriel saw her sitting by the closed entrance silent and still. She almost looked like a statue he thought, so pale and solemn. But nothing in any graveyard could be as beautiful as that huddled figure. He walked slowly as if fearing to wake her up and sat down in front of her. She did not stir and he could not see any line of movement in her closed lashes and chest. He saw the left arm covered with blood from the gash on her shoulder and her wrist was at an impossible angle from its neighbor. Her left eye was also swollen shut as if she just went through a round of bar brawl. These were only few of the wounds and he knew there were plenty more underneath her ruined clothing.

Suddenly her right eyelash fluttered to life and she was looking at him. He stared at that good eye shocked for her pupil was so dilated that it was impossible to tell what color her eyes were. "Waited for you Farmer James. I knew you'd come." Her voice though projected from a distance he could never gain still rang like a blessing for Gabriel.

"Why?" He accused in his torment.

"That is a truly stupid question Gabriel. I went through all this hell and you're sittin' pretty, a bit wet but still in good shape and ask me why?" The banter in her voice was forced but her wits did not abandon her. She stared at his dark face and his dried eyes. Her heart tugged at his expression and his inability to come to grips with what has happened. He has to, she thought or he'll go mad.

"Because you Farmer James are needed here. I am not. No, don't interrupt me for I don't have much time left. So hush and listen. You support the village Gabriel. They look to you for their food and the clothes on their backs. You are suppose to be here and doing what you do. You can argue what you want but in the end when we compare ourselves measure to measure you far outweigh me. I build pretty buildings with nice windows and good walls. But they don't feed hungry people and comfort the sick. They don't make sure that a group of rather ungrateful villagers are taken care of."

He shook his head in disagreement and she had to smile for she was dying yet he was willing to argue with her to her grave. "It was suppose to be me Ophelia. Whatever you did it was suppose to be me! What gave you that right..."

"No one gave me the right Gabriel. I took it and that's the end of it. I knew what you were suppose to be facing and I'll be damned if I let you do it. I came to Delaford Mr. James and I tapped into this place like nothing else before. Not even you could have done what I did and Marianne did find the connection through me. Good G-d man what's the use in arguing now?" Her voice now held a sound of a small wheeze as she felt the discussion tap into her depleted strength. Her eyelash started to flutter and he brushed his hand against her right cheek.

"Don't go on me yet please...Ophelia please." His plea did elicit the desired response and her right eye focused on him again.

"Close your eyes Gabriel." He shook his head for he feared that if he did she would fade away into nothing. She repeated her request with a firmer voice and he finally obeyed.

"Tell me Gabriel do you feel it? Do you hear it?"

He concentrated and thought that nothing had changed; just the sound of the river, the animals...his eyes flew open as he realized that he was hearing birds. His mouth dropped open as the whole scene became vividly clear. There were birds and animals in the churchyard! He also realized that the scent of flowers emanated not from some mysterious force but from the flowers that actually were blooming on the ground. The place had come back to life! "And it will be like that everywhere Gabriel. Not just here, or the corner garden but everywhere. Every piece of land that Delaford owns will be once again fertile. Marianne let it go because she doesn't need to keep it waiting anymore. And I in turn give it to you. There is a new will in my desk drawer that makes you the sole heir to this whole estate. As it should have been, as it should be and will be if you care anything for me. I did this for you farmer James so don't fail me now. Don't make my sacrifice a waste."

Her voice ended there and she coughed herself into unbearable pain. He held her there rocking her and felt her heart that use to be strong as horse's flutter and weaken.

"Don't leave me here Ophelia. Don't make me wait every night for my end on this earth. Please. Please..." He buried his face on her neck as the forgotten tears rose again.

She gave a crooked smile and whispered "I will never leave your side Gabriel, never fear that. It'll be all right good James. You'll see."

"Tell me then you won't die, stay with me and love this humble man. Promise me Ophelia that you'll fight. Promise me!"

She stared at him and saw his anguish. Oh Gabriel, don't break my heart as I lay dying! Don't make me promise something that I can't possibly keep. But his dark eyes shining with his tears moved her as nothing did before and she nodded stroking his hands.

"I promise my lovely James. I promise I will fight and rise above all, even death."

Suddenly their solitude was pierced with the sound of a jeep running on a road not far away. Without hesitation Gabriel screamed for help and even above the noisy engine the driver heard the desperate cry. Within ten minutes people and emergency crew trampled the place. An air mask was placed on her face and forced pure oxygen down her throat as the truck drove in a furious pace trying to out run death itself.

Gabriel was in the back watching her with unblinking eyes. As long as he held on he believed that she would. In the hospital an IV unit mixed with caffeine, the most common diuretic was attached to her arm. And the doctors immediately began pumping antibiotics into her system blitzing everything in its path. Gabriel was taking a look at her ciphered medical chart and saw a big red X marked next to her name. He chased down a doctor and asked what this ugly blemish this signified. The man answered with some pity.

"The dosage amount in her system is so high it's considered experimental. The X is to notify any medical staff to this fact." He nodded small thanks and returned to his vigil by her bedside. Jim came by with a change of clothing and some food. Gabriel thanked him absently then returned to his seat. It was nearly two in the morning when he saw someone's shadow waiting outside her door. He walked out and saw a man sitting in the chair not 6 meters away. Gabriel would have yelled in shock but he was too far-gone to care. The handsome and somber face was pale but the amber-honey colored hair still shone in the hallway light.

Brandon stared at him and Gabriel returned his gaze. The master that was and the master that is faced each other in complete understanding. "They say she's going to die Brandon. That she will not last the night. She did this for me you know. I think she really cared for me and kept me safe. What shall I do Brandon? How can I live without her? You know what I speak of don't you? Yes, yes you do, you must. So tell me what more...what can I do?" The plea of the living can rouse stones and rivers and certainly the dead. Brandon closed his eyes then opened them again but gave no answers. But the man remembered, most definitely what Gabriel was speaking of. The two stared each other in acknowledgment of each other's fears and now both kept vigils by Ophelia's bedside. And between the present and the past the lady was kept there.

She did not come out of her coma until the third week and drifted aimlessly for a while before falling back into the dark womb. But soon she began to take hold of the waking moments with ferocity and determination. Gabriel watch her fight day and night with her coma and her illness but after a few days it became obvious she had won the battle. After two more weeks Gabriel found himself wheeling her to his car and driving to Delaford with anticipation and no fear. Gabriel lifted her from his car and deposited his most precious thing in her bedroom and tucked her in as she fell asleep. Neither were disturbed by the servants that night.

The next morning he was attending to the regular duties necessary for the household when he saw the riot of flowers in the garden. Indeed it was a celebration, and must be shared by all! Gabriel turned to Joseph and said, "Raze the Hedges Joseph. We don't need the corner garden anymore. It wasn't ours to begin with so we must return it. And when that is done please invite the village here for an early fall festivities. We must keep the tradition you know." Joseph nodded and walked away a bit puzzled. Who told him about the Fall Promenade that used to be held here before the Lamberts came? Most of the staff were too young to remember that.

No one thought anything of it when Gabriel moved in to Delaford and took a room next to hers. No one questioned for they felt that this was right and proper even though a bit irregular. They all knew who he was and where his lineage came from so it was only right that the last Ferrars return to his rightful place. Not even Silus put up much of a fuss and sent Gabriel a bottle of good wine to welcome him to Delaford. One evening Gabriel found himself returning late from his own farm. With a great desire to see Ophelia he entered her bedroom but found it empty. Feeling a bit anxious he scoured the lower floors but did not find her. He quickly dashed up to the attic and saw her sitting among the many treasures of the place.

She glanced at him and smiled brilliantly. Spread around her were art deco pieces gathered from the attic. He sat across from her and asked her how she could bear to come up here for this still felt like a place for the Others. "They just loved, Gabriel, that's all. She loved him beyond any borders set by man or death and she was willing to stay and keep her word waiting for him for eternity if need be. You can't think that as evil."

"No, but she was destructive Ophelia. She did it to the detriment of everything and everyone else. Delaford was consumed by it. You can't be so easy to forgive her after what you went through!" He voiced with some venom.

"Dear James, you have to forgive them sometime. They left you all this and will probably give even more by next year. This place is blessed or cursed whichever way you look at it. But what it did at the end granted you your heart's desire." He stared at her quietly and stroked her cheek eliciting a sweet smile.

"Perhaps I could, as long as I have you." His voice softened considerably and she brushed her face against his palm.

"You have me Farmer James as I promised you once. Delaford needs you here and I do too. Now we can begin something new with each other. I shall never leave you Gabriel. I promised didn't I?"

Yes, he thought, my love kept her word. He took hold of her delicate fingers and stared at her heaven-blue eyes. Ophelia's hands were colder than ice and so was her face but it mattered not to the Master of Delaford. The mistresses of this land are known to keep their promises and Ophelia did not fail to keep the tradition. So he had his lady and Delaford was their home and in the end that was all that was ever worth believing.