Adam knelt beside Hannah. She lay at the bottom of the main internal stairs. Her body was twisted and her head lay at an odd angle. "What happened?" he asked Carson the butler.

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know. I heard her scream. When I arrived, she was laying here, sir."

Adam pulled Hannah into his arms. Pain squeezed his chest and wedged in his heart. She had been very dear to him; had given him so much joy and was the only person who really knew him. He kissed her forehead and looked up at Carson with tears in his eyes. "You had better send for the doctor and inform the peelers."

"Yes, My Lord." Carson hesitated before he walked away and said, "I think she may have slipped, sir."

Adam lifted his head and stared blankly at Carson. Slip, he thought. How could she have slipped? He closed his eyes, took a breath to steady his emotions and nodded. "Thank you, Carson." Adam lifted Hannah and looked over at the weeping housemaid. "Jane," he said. "Open the door of the guestroom for me and I shall lay her there until the authorities come."

*****

Jessica waited at the gatehouse with Samuel and Jack. She cried for their loss and for hers. She understood the hardship of growing up without a mother. Hannah and she had become good friends. Hannah was her security, her only friend in a place that was once her home.

She had wanted to go to the Hall to see Hannah and find out what had happened but Adam had told her to stay in the gatehouse. She had no idea what Hannah's death would mean to him. She didn't know how much he loved her, or if he had loved her at all.

It was dark when he opened the door into the kitchen. Jessica had already put the two boys to bed and was washing dishes when he came inside. He said nothing to her, but took off his coat and hung it on the wall hook. Adam stumbled past her and into the sitting room. Jessica hesitated. She didn't know what to do, but felt she must let him know how grieved she was.

She stood in the doorway and watched as he sat with his head in his hands. His behaviour told her that Hannah must have meant something to him. She couldn't leave him as he was so she stepped in beside him and put her hand on the back of his bowed head. "I am so sorry, Adam." When his body heaved, Jessica couldn't help but want to comfort him. She knelt before him and took his face in her hands. Loss and pain raked his rich brown eyes. Adam clung to her and cried in her arms. Jessica was overwhelmed by his grief. She held him close and cried too.

*****

Samuel woke early the next morning. He made his way down the stairs to find Jessica in the kitchen. She'd been to the dairy early to get milk for Jack. Adam stayed the night in Hannah's room. Jessica had left him in the sitting room the night before to nurse his grief with a bottle of whiskey.

"Jess, where my ma?" Samuel rubbed his eyes as he walked into the room.

Jessica took a deep breath. She knelt down and hugged him. She didn't know what to say, or even that she should tell him anything. Perhaps Adam should be the one.

Samuel asked again. "I want my mama!"

He was only three. Jessica didn't think he would understand. She fought to hold back her own tears as she looked at this beautiful little boy. He was very much like his mother. She touched his light brown hair and looked into his hazel eyes that were wide with anticipation.

"Mama is not here, Samuel. She has gone to heaven."

He smiled at her and held out his small hand. "You take me?" he asked.

"No, Samuel, I can't take you." Jessica felt a sting in her nostrils as her own emotions affected her physically.

His little face puckered and his lip quivered. "Da take me?"

Jessica put her palm to his cheek. "No, Samuel Dada can't. Your mama has gone to sleep. We can't go to her."

Tears bubbled in his eyes until they erupted into a steady stream down his cheeks. "Sammy want Mama," he cried.

Jessica knew he didn't understand what he was being told. She pulled him to her; tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, little one. God has taken your mama and we will never see her again."

As she held him, she felt a hand on her head. Jessica looked up to see Adam standing over them. His face was drawn, his eyes red and bloodshot. His shirt hung loosely and had not been buttoned all the way. She pulled Samuel's arms from around her neck and wiped his little face with her apron. "Dada's here," she whispered and gave him a smile.

Samuel beamed and held his arms out to his father. "You take me. Sammy wants Mama."

Adam looked from his son and at Jessica with a puzzled expression on his face.

"I tried to tell him. He doesn't understand," she said.

Adam reached out and touched her chin lightly; he nodded and smiled in way of thanks, then carried his son out the door and into the garden.

Jessica busied herself by preparing Jack's milk. He would be awake soon and be very hungry. She cooked oats for Samuel, Adam and herself. Jack woke crying so she lifted him from his crib and carried him back to the kitchen where she sat in the comfortable chair near the warmth of the stove. He was almost finished his milk when Adam returned with Samuel. Their faces were much brighter.

Adam dished Samuel and himself some oats and sat at the table to eat. He watched as Jessica cradled Jack close and fed him his milk. Adam stared into his porridge as he said, "You will become their mother."

Startled by the sound of his voice Jessica jerked her head up. "I'm sorry, Adam. What did you say?"

"They need a mother. You will be it."

"I can't, Adam. My own child is not far away and I am inexperienced."

Adam peered over at her. "From what I can see you're doing a great job. I shall move you all to the Hall. Jane will be there to help you." He looked back at his bowl and took another spoonful of oats. "You will replace Hannah. After your child is born, we will have other things to discuss."

Jessica's chest constricted as a heavy weight pressed upon it. "I would much rather stay here. Perhaps Jane could live with me and when I leave after my child is born, she could raise them."

Adam slammed his fist on the timber surface. He stood, knocking his chair to the floor and leaned over the table as he glared at her. "You are not leaving, Jessica. You will do as I say!"

The sound of his angry voice startled Jack. He let out a wail. Jessica stood and rocked with him over her shoulder to comfort him. "Adam, we do not get on, you and I. It is best I leave."

As he came around the table, Jessica held Jack tight. She tensed as he took her face in his hand.

"Yesterday you told me you would stop your defiance and today you do it again."

Jessica tried to pull her face away but his grip tightened. "It is not defiance, Adam. It is what I want to do. I am of age. You have no say over me."

"Really?" He chuckled. "You're a young woman. Pregnant, with no husband and no money. How far do you think you're going to get?" He held her face in both of his hands and put his forehead to hers. "I want to take care of you. Hannah is dead. My children need a mother." Jessica tried to back away but he stopped her movement. "I felt we connected last night. Please don't make me force this," he whispered. "It is the answer for both of us. You need me as I need you. After your child is born, we will talk more of what will be expected of you."

The urge to push him away was strong but she had Jack in her arms and the safety of her unborn child to consider if he lost his temper. "I know what you're implying. I won't do it!"

Adam released her and stepped back. He clenched his fists. "Pack the things you and the children need. I will come for you this afternoon." He spun on his heels and stormed out of the house.

Jessica trembled, but she refused to cry. He had spoken truthfully. She had no money and nowhere to go. She would end up on the streets and possibly worse by having to sell herself to survive.

*****

Adam came for her in a wagon. Once he had loaded all the things she had packed, he helped her up onto the seat and handed Jack to her. Samuel sat between them.

Jessica glanced longingly at the gatehouse as they drove away.

Copyright © 2019 Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

Peelers were the first police officers. They were named after Sir Robert Peel who introduced them, first in Ireland, and then in England. They were also known as Bobbies in England.

Did Adam's grief surprise you?  It seems he does have a heart after all.

Only 4 more chapters to go. Phew!!

Thank you all so much for hanging in there. xoxo