Selfless

By Susan Williams

Isabella and Gregory had been trying for a baby for the last five years, but sadly, it was not meant to be. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his parents and her sisters-in-law were constantly sneering at her and would often call her barren when she was alone with them.

Despite Gregory reassuring her that he is happy, she feels that she is letting him down; which often clouds her judgement. No longer able to stand his parents or the wicked stepsisters, Isabella informs Gregory that she no longer wants to be in their company, which causes a great deal of friction; leading Isabella to take drastic steps.

She may not be able to have children, but her new maid might, and with that thought uppermost in her mind, she sets her plan in motion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Williams
• Release date: Apr 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463844298

Susan Williams

Hi, I live in Dorset, England and I was a Teaching Assistant. Due to Covid 19 I have decided to retire. Not sure what the future holds with regards to work, but for now, I'm concentrating on my writing and other hobbies.I am married and have two wonderful sons.I enjoy, reading, writing, playing darts, crafts, exploring coffee shops and mooching .

Book preview

Selfless

Gregory smiled at Isabella as she slid out of the bed, and then watched her shiver when she put her warm foot on the cold floor. Then he sighed lovingly when she walked to the table, poured some water into the bowl and washed her face. They had been married for over five years and he knew that he’d been very lucky in his choice of bride. Admittedly, he had not loved her at first, nor she him, but things had changed for the better. Besides, arranged marriages were often like that in the beginning; but he had been lucky. He loved her now so strongly and was pleased to find that she had grown to love him too, and he couldn’t think of life without her.

‘You have to get up,’ Isabella whispered, as she kissed his forehead.

‘Come back to bed, we have more to accomplish here,’ he grumbled, trying to put on his masterful voice and patting her side of the bed.

‘You think of nothing but pleasure. Now heave that tired body of yours out of the bed and retire to your own room. You need to get ready. The estate manager will be here at eleven and it’s nearly ten.’

‘You spoil all my fun. May I come to your bed chamber tonight?’

‘How many times have I told you. There are no formalities when it comes to expressing your love. You may enter my rooms at any time.’

He smiled, for he knew that he didn’t really need to ask, not anymore. Not like the early years of their marriage. For the first year, that side of their marriage had been difficult. It was only over the last few years that they had grown to love each other. He couldn’t bear to think of those early years when they’d both been so stubborn.

After Gregory had retired to his rooms Isabella went and sat on the bed. The nights were the best part of her day, because at least when she and Gregory made love, she could forget about the wasteful days. Her days were spent idling around the grounds, wishing she could have a more constructive role in the running of the estate. But she wasn’t sure what form that would take. Gregory wouldn’t hinder her, but she would have to think long and hard on the matter. She was bored with tapestries and cushions. There was only so much embroidery you could do before you started to detest it.

Gregory was not at the breakfast table, so she ate alone, which wasn’t unusual. Gregory loved the estate and from the moment he got up until he went to bed, he was in the fields mingling with the workers, and sometimes, doing some manual work himself.

‘Please Miss, there’s a man to see you in the hall,’ the housekeeper mumbled.

‘Please knock Brent,’ she said sternly.

Gregory had allowed his servants to come and go when they pleased and in the five years she had been there, they hadn’t been able to get out of the habit. Gregory was a lousy task master.

‘Are you sure he asked for me?’

‘Yes miss. Shall I send him in?’

‘No, show him into the study and I will be there presently.’

She wasn’t used to people asking after her. Since coming to live at the manor the only company she had was that of his two brothers and their malicious wives; and his mother and father when they could bring themselves to talk to her. His nephews were the only decent thing about the whole family, apart from Gregory, who didn’t seem to fit the mould.

After finishing her breakfast Isabella walked into the study. A man was pacing up and down by the window and frowning. He was of average height and build and he had fair hair and blue eyes, and she noticed that his hair needed a good wash, which made her cringe. She hated men who were not proud of their appearance.

The man looked at her as she walked across the room and smiled, letting her see his gleaming white teeth which restored her good opinion of him.

‘Your father sent me. He has procured my services.’ Then seeing the frown on her face, he added, ‘I have some delicate news I wish to impart.’

Isabella nodded and said as calmly as she could, ‘What do you want with me sir?’

‘It is a sensitive subject, but I will try to relate it as best I can.’

‘Just get to the point Mr….’ she realised she didn’t know his name.

‘Sorry, yes, I’m Mr McNally.’

‘Go on sir,’ she pleaded, a little impatiently.

‘I will say it as it is. Please forgive me if I appear to be a little intrusive.’

Isabella just wished he would say what he had to say because she was becoming increasingly restless. However, she managed to wait patiently while he pulled his waist coat down and stood up straight. He was obviously uncomfortable with what he was about to say and feeling sorry for him she said, ‘Please Mr McNally, sit down and come straight to the point.’

‘Your father now regrets your arranged marriage and intends to make amends, as he puts it, and these are not my words. He intends to make amends for selling you to the highest bidder and now that the law allows you to divorce, he intends to give you enough money to do that.’

Isabella smiled. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her father, not always the easiest of men, was now prepared to buy her out of a marriage he had wanted so badly.

Good god she thought, the man does have a heart.

‘As you have probably gathered, my father and I have a somewhat strained relationship, and so what I am about to say to you will come as no surprise. I want nothing from my father. I was one of four sisters he sold off and now he has grown a conscience? Tell him that I do not require his money because I love my husband and my husband reciprocates my feelings. But thank you for taking the time to see me and I wish you a safe journey.’

Then she called for Brent who showed him out.

‘Well done Isabella!’

‘What!’

Isabella turned around to see Gregory walking towards her.

‘How long have you been there?’

‘Long enough to hear that you love me.’

‘You’ve known that for a while.’

‘Yes, but you say the words out loud so rarely, that it was nice to hear them from your lips.’

‘Do not get used to it. I still remember all those years of tyranny.’

Gregory flinched and then pulled Isabella to him and kissed the top of her head before saying, ‘Do not remind me. I was young Isabella and had no idea how to treat a woman. The only knowledge I had, came from my father, but you have taught me how to love. Please, let’s just leave the past behind us. Do I not make up for that cruelty now?’

She gently pushed her body away from his and he sat down and sighed.

‘I am sorry I brought it up Gregory, but my life in this house was so miserable for such a long time and I fear that one day, you will grow tired of me and we will return to those long unforgiving nights when I feared your knock at my door.’

‘But I never forced myself on you Isabella, so why are you afraid?’

‘I cannot bear to love you as I do. When I look at you, I get an overwhelming sense of loneliness. I fear something will happen to you and then where will I be?’

‘Live for today Isabella, do not worry about what may be. You will be well cared for when I leave this world. I have made sure of that.’

‘It’s not the lack of money I fear, but the loneliness I will feel when you are no longer here. But of course, you are right, I should be thankful for each day we have together, but promise me this, if you ever feel for another the way you do me, please tell me.’

‘No such promise will ever come from my lips. You make me angry when you talk like this. Do you still not realise how deeply I feel for you. I would lay down my life for you Isabella. Now stop this melancholy and come with me, I have something I need to ask you.’

Intrigued, she followed him to what she thought was a derelict hut and watched in horror when one of the farm workers staggered out. She took a step back and when she looked at the man, she realised that he had been badly beaten. Gregory and the other men dragged the man back to the hut and Isabella had no idea what to do next, and she couldn’t understand why he had been treated thus. Worried, she stood out in the open and waited for Gregory to return.

Ten minutes later, Gregory came out of the wooden hut and stood dejectedly in front of her. She put her hand up to his face and he held it against his cheek for a few seconds, and once he had regained his composure he said, ‘I’m sorry you had to see that Isabella.’

‘What happened?’

‘He hit his wife, almost killed her and now we are waiting for the bobbies to take him away.’

‘Where is his wife?’

‘She is with a neighbour. Do not worry, she has plenty of people around her and the doctor is with her. I need you to do something for me Isabella, and before you make your decision, I need to show you something. But what you are about to see may distress you. Are you prepared to see disorder beyond reason?’

‘Yes Gregory, but I don’t understand,’ she whispered.

‘You need to see this Isabella. Unless you witness this, you will never understand their plight.’

Thankfully, Isabella had thought to bring her cloak and she wrapped it tightly around her, for the cold air was stinging at her face. She had an idea where he was taking her and she knew, that she was going to need a strong stomach.

Just as she’d guessed, Gregory took her to the farmers’ houses. If you could call them houses, for they were nothing but small wooden huts.

‘Isabella, these people need our help. I have had this estate for ten years and I have only recently been made aware of how these people live. I am disgusted with myself for not doing anything sooner.’

‘Do not vex yourself Gregory, I have been here before and I know what you are going to ask of me, and I will help you.’

‘Dear god Isabella, you never fail to amaze me. It will be hard work. These people are afraid of landowners. They have been treated like animals and we need to win their trust. We will start with the women and children. As you may know, soap and water do not seem important to them; I suppose it’s because they work hard and don’t have time for the luxuries of life. It is up to us to educate them. I am building new huts for them Isabella, but we need to persuade them to move. These hovels may not look like much, but they are their homes, and we are going to have a hard time persuading them to leave.’

Isabella did not enter the huts, she had been there before, and she knew the stench would make her ill. She knew too, that before supplying them with soap, she needed to supply them with food, for many of them were hungry. She had sent hampers down before but only on special occasions. This time, she would send Brent and two other servants down tomorrow with some food hampers. A peace offering of sorts. She would do that every day for a while, then next week she would come down herself.

She had always wanted to help Gregory on the farm and now it seemed, she’d got her wish. But she knew that she was going to have a hard time convincing them to leave their hovels; they were guarded and very suspicious of the gentry.

That night, having gone to town with the local sheriff, Gregory came back exhausted. He stayed in his room that night and she missed him terribly. She had wanted to go to him, but she knew that he would be asleep as soon as he lay his head on the pillow.

However, she was going to have to tell him that she no longer wanted him to stay away from her - ever. She needed him by her side, especially at night. No more his and her rooms - just their room.

When Isabella walked into the morning room Gregory was sat at the table and when he saw her, he smiled, and she smiled back, and like she did every morning, she seated herself at the other end of the table.

Then, trying to gauge his mood, she said, ‘I no longer want to shout across the table each morning when we meet.’ Then she gathered up her utensils and moved them to the other end of the table to where Gregory was sitting and sat next to him.

‘There,’ she said happily. ‘Do you not think that my sitting here is much more agreeable than sitting down there?’

He smiled then said, ‘Yes much more agreeable, will you be sitting here every morning?’

‘Why, do you not like it?’

‘I like it, but tradition states that I am head of the house and you are my second in command.’

‘And as your second in command, I need to be by your side, but of course, if it does not suit you, I will be happy to sit back down there and shout up to you.’

‘Do not jest with me. If you want to sit here, then you may. It is most agreeable.’

‘Good, now if you don’t mind, I’d like you to remain silent while I eat my fish.’

The nerve of her, he thought to himself as he tucked into his meat. But that’s why he loved her. She was clever, witty and beautiful.

Halfway through the meal, his man servant Edwardo came in with two pairs of trousers in his hand and enquired which ones he wanted laid out.

Before he could answer, Isabella looked across to Edwardo and said, ‘From now on, this type of business, and any other business for that matter will be discussed after breakfast, for I wish to be alone in