Ashton Park by Murray Pura Read Free Book Online Page A

be allowed to say goodbye if I am to be forced out of Ashton Park today.”
    “Not just today. This minute. Victoria is off on a day excursion with her sisters.” Mrs. Seabrooke picked up a pen and paper and extended them to Ben. “You may write a note. I will read it, so do not say anything foolish or she will never receive it.”
    “What am I supposed to say? That I am dismissed?”
    “You are not dismissed. Unless you try to make this a public scandal. You may tell her you have taken employment at an estate in Oxfordshire for the time being.”
    “She won’t believe it. She knows I’d do anything to stay here beside her.”
    Mrs. Seabrooke tapped her fingers on her desktop. “You must vanish entirely, you understand. There can be no correspondence beyond this note. No address where she can find you.” She stopped tapping. “Have you ever considered enlisting, Mr. Whitecross?”
    Ben held the pen and paper loosely in his hands. “I have. Victoria is against it.”
    “But Sir William would be for it. He would hold you in high esteem. Perhaps he has wondered why you are here safe and sound while he has three sons in harm’s way. His good opinion of you would secure your future.” She leaned back in her chair, narrowed her eyes, and smiled. “Write the note. Bid her a noble and heroic farewell. Tell her you are bound by all that is holy to do your patriotic duty. Say you love her, if you must. Then go to the stables and gather your things and be off. Skitt will take you into Liverpool.”
    “Skitt!”
    “Todd Turpin will be the new groom and Skitt will be his assistant.”
    Ben hesitated, reluctant to put pen to paper. She continued to smile and watched him, resuming the tapping of her fingers.
    “It is the Germans or me, Mr. Whitecross,” she said softly. “I believe you would be better off choosing the Germans.”

    Later that afternoon, Colonel Harraway came up from Liverpool. It was not a long drive in a motorcar. Leaving his driver with the vehicle, he knocked at the front door and was ushered by Tavy into the library once again, where Sir William and Lady Elizabeth quickly joined him. He refused tea or water.
    “I wished you to hear from me directly,” the colonel began as they sat together. “The game is pretty much up. The post office was the last position the rebels held and they are abandoning it. Scores have already surrendered. The fighting was brisk this week but it will all be over in matter of hours.”
    “What have you heard of our son?” asked Lady Elizabeth as soon as he paused. Her hands gripped her husband’s.
    “We have recovered some of the British soldiers the rebels held. Not all. They have been treated fairly, a factor that will tell in the rebels’ favor when they are tried for treason. But there is no word yet of your son. When there is, I promise you, I shall cable you or come in person.”
    Lady Elizabeth struggled with her words. “Have they…have the Irish… shot any of…their prisoners?”
    “No, my lady, you may rest easy on that score at least. They know the world is watching. The Irish want their cause to appear noble and virtuous.”
    Sir William fixed the colonel with a sharp stare. “I take it the fighting was severe.”
    The colonel nodded. “Yes, Sir William. We used artillery and incendiary shells, as I expected. We did not have a month to play with the rebels, not with a war in France. Fires swept through city blocks—some, I grant you, were started by our shells, but others sprang up due to looters and vandals. Dozens of buildings were devastated—whole streets really. Better that shellfire level the rebel positions than our troops attack them head-on.”
    Sir William held the colonel’s eye. “Quite.”
    The officer looked away and stood up. “I have every expectation your son will return to you unharmed.”
    Sir William also stood while Lady Elizabeth remained in her chair, a hand over her eyes. “Thank you, Colonel, for your personal