Chapter 40-1

"Harris?" The man repeated stopping a moment, his eyes trained on the boy’s back with a mixture of stunned shock. "Any relation to Nan Harris?" he queried, his voice filled with light curiosity as he spoke. "Aye, she's me mum." Jamie answered with a short nod of his head, never bothering to turn and look back at the man’s face as he answered. "Really?” The man breathed. “Tell me Jamie, were you named for your father?” --- Mr. Baringer had just left the kitchen to seek out the house’s wayward footmen, as he’d only just been informed that Cook and her assistances had been sent to town without the two men and had now returned and were in need of the men’s aid to unload their well-stocked cart. He’d barely stepped three feet out the door when the idle chatter of male voices filled his ears and he recalled that when seeking a moment or two for oneself the servants would frequent the wood pile just around the corner from the Kitchen’s backdoor.  Finding his recollection had been correct as the voices grew louder and he began to make out the words spoken, as well as being able to identify their owners. “I’m tellin you someone could die if they’re not careful.” Charley stated sagely. “Well it’d be their own damn fault then wouldn’t it?” Ben replied, his tone far from concerned for the welfare of whatever poor soul Charley seemed to be fretting for. “And precisely what would be whose fault?” Mr. Baringer inquired, glaring at the two young men as he rounded the corner, watching with quiet satisfaction as the two instantly straightened upon seeing him. Sir William may be Lord and Master of Stonebrook and all those that dwelled within its walls, but his wrath was hardly the only to be feared. Indeed, it was a whispered understanding among the servants that should a wrath be incurred it was better to have it be Sir William’s than Mr. Baringer’s. Sir William, despite what most believed, would simply dismiss the servant and have done with it. Mr. Baringer, on the other hand, was less kind. Offering no reference and should inquires be made about the servant, his reply would be a detailed list of all the mistakes the servant had made while at Stonebrook. It was undeniable that no servant under Mr. Baringer’s watchful gaze wanted to leave Stonebrook on the Butler’s bad side. Not if they wished to continue working at their present station. “The cliffs along the house Sir,” Charley answered swiftly seeking to deflect any of his superior’s ire with his reply. “I was just noticing that with the weather the way it is around here, what with the winds, and rain. Someone walking the cliffs about Stonebrook might get hurt should the edge give way.” He explained quickly. “You think this a possibility do you?” Mr. Baringer replied with a quizzical arch of his brow, regarding the young man’s word with a sort of mild interest, though mentally filing away every word for later mention to Sir William, since it was not at all a bad thought. And now with Miss Harris and her boy about, Mr. Baringer was fair certain Sir William would want to see the edge of his home secure and safe. “Aye, Sir. There are cliffs like these near my hometown.” Charley stated with an eager nod. “And weather’s near the same too. A few years back, a girl got hurt pretty bad 'cause the cliff gave while she was walkin’ it. Broke her back.” He stated with a pitying look at the ground. With a slightly concerned glance to the cliffs not some fifty feet from where they currently stood, Mr. Barginer considered the lad’s words a moment more before nodding and looking back to the two men. “Aye, that would be a concern.” He agreed. “But not for the two of you. Now go help unload the cart.” He ordered. “You’re not paid to have the maids do your work.” He informed them with a dismissive toss of his head. Quickly both men snapped to and jogged off to the stables to do as they had been ordered. Once more looking to cliffs edge Mr. Baringer decided to see just how dangerous a fall from the cliffs could be. Walking to the edge, his unease grew tenfold when he stopped at the grassy rock ledge. Looking down only to feel the world spin beneath his feet at the sight of hard unforgiving stone and the swift trashing waves that beat against them, indeed should a body fall from his current location there was neither rock nor root to grasp. Merely the chilling thought of a heavenly hand seeking to push the body down before pulling its soul up and to heaven. The thought going along way to increase Mr. Baringer’s want to speak with Sir William about some form of railing being set up to keep such accidents from happening. Though that thought too, was short lived as yet another set of voices pulled Mr. Baringer’s attention away from the cliffs and their fatal fall and redirected it over to a small trail curving along cliff’s face. With a disbelieving wrinkle of his brow, Mr. Baringer stared hard at the path he had neglected to notice before now. Pondering how it had gone undiscovered until once again his thoughts were interrupted, first by the sight of Jamie walking the narrow path then by the sight of the man that followed him. Mr. Baringer felt his eyes bulging from his skull as he took in the face of Eli Waters.  A man he knew Sir William wanted nowhere near Nan, and should he discover the man was now with her son… Quickly Mr. Baringer set his elderly frame running back into house in rapid search of Miss Harris. Praying he found her before his Master saw who was coming and finished what he had been seething he should have when last the man came to Stonebrook. The suicidal fool. --- The moment Mr. Baringer burst through the door of Nan’s work room, breathless, sweating and with Jamie’s name on his lips, Nan’s world expanded on the single thought of Jamie and what could have happened to him to send Sir William’s Butler running to her. Snapping up from her chair she flew from the room and out of the house. Not thinking to ask where Jamie was or what had happened to him. Words were not what filled her head, images of his hurt or worse, thoughts of him calling her name and her not being there to answer his call. These were her only thoughts and these were what directed her feet outside and toward the hidden path along the cliff. She’d only just reached the edge when she heard his voice and saw his little head come into view, relief flooding her to a near overwhelming degree, as she felt the breath she’d been holding since Baringer had found her, leave her in one long hiss. Until she saw who followed him, and then neither thought nor breath could reach her as a cold fist of dread and fear slammed into her with all the force and accuracy of a well-aimed pistol shot. When Eli saw her, the ever present smirk she’d seen him wear as children claimed his face in so slow a manner it seemed as if it had all day to relish the act. While Nan inwardly quaked at the sight of it, as children she’d never given credence to the cruelty that look could bring, until it had been leveled on for reasons she had never understood. He claimed love, even after he had blackmailed her into their engagement, even after killing his brother. He claimed it all as love for her. Yet, that had never once been how she had viewed it, and until now she had never understood his need to love her.