THE HEART GOES ON
Chapter Ten
Mid-October, 1912
Philadelphia
Gerard
I had received a letter from
Emily at breakfast. Avoiding Cal’s sarcastic eyes, I took myself onto the
grounds of Crosswinds to read it. I put a light coat on, as the weather was
turning chilly.
I wandered down to the lake, sat
down on the bank, and watched the water lapping gently.
Emily had been so distant. She
had left to go home nearby and had been tearful and depressed. I was almost
hesitant to read it, but I slowly opened the rich paper and read her words.
My Dearest Gerard,
I miss you so. I apologize for
my behavior these last few weeks, and I believe the wedding plans were getting
a bit much. Marriage is such a big step. Please don’t take this as a sign that
I don’t love you. Gerard, you will never know how much I adore you. You make me
laugh, and when we are together, I am so happy.
Please come and visit me at my
parents’ house, where we can talk simply and not have any intrusion from your
family. I am wishing you would come to visit me soon.
Your Dearest Emily
I frowned. I was pleased at her
declarations of love, but the reticence to our marriage was still there. When I
had first proposed, she had been ecstatic and had cried tears of joy. I could
not understand her sudden aversion to matrimony and being near my family. I
would have to visit her and reassure her. As I thought this, I heard voices
nearby. Father and Cal. The voices carried as they were walking across the
grounds. I stayed sitting down on the bank where they could not see me.
My father’s voice was hot and
angry, Cal’s voice pleading and wobbly.
"Bonner told me, Caledon,
that the Bukater girl also took the diamond after raiding your safe. Can you
imagine hearing it from your damned valet rather than you?"
"I meant to tell you, Father,
but…" Cal blustered.
"It’s a good thing Bonner
has tracked them down in Wisconsin. The ticket clerk at the Santa Monica
station saw them board a train. You will have to get down there quickly. Bonner
will come with you."
Father’s voice grew more cutting.
"You will get that girl
back, and the diamond, too, by whatever means. Do you understand me,
Caledon?"
I gasped, not believing what I
was hearing. The voices were growing fainter as they walked away from my
hearing.
"We know she is with another
man in Chippewa Falls by the name of Jack Dawson," my father raged.
"You will retrieve both goods, no matter what. Bonner will assist you. He
is well-practiced, and will keep all this quiet!"
"I will, Father. I will
leave this evening, and oh, I am so sorry," Cal was bleating, obviously
under pressure.
"You are a damned Hockley,
Caledon. Don’t be an embarrassment like your mother was. You find that girl and
the necklace, marry her, and I will reinstate you to your fortune. Do you
understand that?"
"Yes, Father..." The
voices faded from earshot.
I was breathing heavily. I could
not grasp what had just happened. My brother was obviously going to extract
Rose from where she had fled to from him to be with another man. I had heard
rumors at the club that she had been having an affair with a steerage passenger
and had led Cal on a merry chase. She had always been feisty. So, it was true!
But I was shocked that Cal was
going on orders to get her back no matter what! So, he would force the girl to
marry him so Father would give him his millions back, as well as getting back
the gaudy necklace he had insisted on buying for Rose. I am sure she’d hated
it. It was like Cal--big, ostentatious, and cold. I could not take in how cold
and callous he really was! And my father, to boot!
I would have to warn them. I
would tell Father I was visiting Emily, then friends in New York, but I would
really go to Wisconsin and find this Jack Dawson and Rose. I could not let my
brother get there first. He was capable of anything!
I ran from the lake, crushing
Emily’s letter in my hand as I went.