THE WOLF OF THORNFIELD HALL: Chapter 8 - Rejection

On Christina’s return, she found Fairfax in his office. His brow furrowed dark as a thundercloud when she told him about the scent she’d picked up at the station. “Are you sure, Christina? I mean absolutely sure?”

The Varencourt nodded. “It was a scout. A Teut. I’d know their stench anywhere.”

“Damn. I thought my last encounter would send a message. Clearly not.”

“They’re determined, Edward. And each cycle they’ll step up their attacks. You must know that. This is not a problem that’s going away. Now their familial connection to you has been confirmed there’ll be no stopping them. For now, it’s all about testing, finding out how many they’ll be up against. Once they’re sure, they’ll go all in.”

“You’re right, of course. Kit confirmed their claim was legitimate. That damned marriage! It was in the fifteen hundreds, for God’s sake!” He sat down at his desk, for once, tidy and uncluttered. “It won’t take much testing to know there’s no one coming to the rescue. The Teuts control most of the European packs, and most of the celtic clans up in arms or in retrenchment.” He sighed. “Did you pick up anything else? Psychically, I mean?”

“Not really. Nothing coherent, anyway. Except… for some reason, I think their focus was on Jane. Understandable, I suppose. They’re sure to mistake the arrival of any female as a sign you have changed your mind about taking a mate.” She took in breath. “I’m glad you returned so promptly. I’m worried.”

“I never ignore it when you call to me, Christina, you know that. I was afraid of this. I told you having an outsider here was a bad idea. That she’s a female is bound to raise their suspicions. You sure it was Jane they were interested in?”

“Positive. To be honest, I don’t think she’s in any real danger between moons. I mean, it’s not as if she’s one of us. We can find some errand for her to attend to when the phase is rampant But I thought it best to have you back. Just in case.”

Edward fell into a brooding silence, worried by the Teuts’ interest in Jane.

“She should never have come here,” he said after a while. “I should never have let you persuade me to permit her to stay. Now I’ve got her to worry about too. She’s got to go, Christina. Got to.”

“Oh, Edward. It’s like the world’s closing in on us! The business side of things is struggling. We can’t let her go. There’s no one of our kind qualified—even if they were minded to come here, which no one seems to be, though God knows we’ve tried.”

“That may be so. My fears aren’t only for her safety. She’s an ingenue who won’t be able to keep her nose out of things.” He cast about. “Look at this room. It’s spotless and tidy. She’s relentless and even now, more au fait with my affairs than any outsider has a right to be. If she discovers who—what—we truly are, who knows what the consequences might be?”

“Well, she may be young and naïve, but I’m not sure how I would have coped last evening without her. She didn’t flinch. That fight … your wound … it was the worst I’ve ever seen you. I was worried you might not pull through.”

“It was bad, I grant you. Probably the worst injury I ever sustained. It would have been close. I’m grateful you found me.”

“I may be keeping the wolf at bay, but I can still run. Still strong enough to lift a man.”

“Yes. Your efforts have paid off. You withstand the lunar force better than anyone could have imagined.”

“I only pay background attention to it now. I even managed to welcome our visitor, remember? Until…”

“Until you sensed I was in trouble.”

Christina nodded. “I know you won’t admit it, Edward, but you were dying. Your cries cut into the psychic layer and I was able to find you and bring you back. Thank the Lord it was nearly dawn, otherwise the force would have been too powerful and I would have been lost to its power.”

“And all your hard work to restrain the wolf would have been for nothing.” Edward nodded. Then he pursed his lips in sudden determination. “I get it, Christina, I do. But Jane has to go. There’s nothing else for it. She absolutely cannot stay now, and that’s that. If for one moment the Teuts suspect that she and I might …”

Christina bit her lip. “Yes. And I agree with you. I think that is exactly what’s on their mind. If you should take a mate, have a child…”

“Then they’d have to rein themselves in and respect the lore, and the chance to legitimately gain Thornfield would be lost. Yes. Their blood is up now. They’ll want to finish me rather than risk me mating—whether I intend to or not.”

“But what will you do? There’s no one to help us!”

“I don’t have a single idea.”

***

Caster wasn’t at the station to meet Jane as she clambered down from the train. Instead, to her surprise, she discovered that Edward Fairfax himself had deigned to meet her. She felt embarrassed. Not only because she found herself alone in the dark of a winter’s evening with a man in whose company she found it impossible to feel comfortable, but because she’d taken Christina at her word and had amassed an terrifying collection of designer carrier-bags.

Edward’s eyebrows sailed skywords as he took them off her to store in the back seat of the Landy.

“You’ve been busy,” he said.

“It was Christina’s idea. She said—”

“I know, I know. I was only teasing. You must learn not to take yourself so seriously, Jane.”

But she couldn’t help it. As she climbed into the passenger seat, she found even just sitting next to him made her heart race, forcing her to catch at her breath. She hoped he wouldn’t engage her in any more conversation.

As luck would have it, he seemed not to be in much mood to talk, instead preferring to brood the whole way back to the Hall. The interminable rain had begun again, beating an endless tattoo on the roof of the car, thunder rumbling overhead. Shards of forked lightning formed cracks of the sky as they reached the heavy wrought-iron gates. Some enjoyed storms like this. Revelled in their primordial energy. Jane had never been one of them. She flinched at every flash. Did the sun never come out here?

They drew up outside the house and Fairfax jumped out, quickly yanking open the back door to grab her bags.

“Get inside and quickly,” he barked. “Or you’ll get drenched. Tomorrow you are leaving.”

That she hadn’t expected.

She swallowed hard, not sure she had heard right against the din of the storm. “L-leaving?”

“Yes,” he replied, shouting now. “I’ve decided I can do without a personal assistant. Christina will have to take some of the load. She’s already agreed.”

“W-why didn’t she before, then?” Jane couldn’t help her chin rising, tears threatening to join the spears of rain that stung at her face.

Despite the weather, he glanced round then raised his voice even louder. “That’s none of your business, Miss Reid. Suffice it to say, since my housekeeper has agreed to carry your load, there is no job here for you anymore. I am sorry you have been put to so much trouble.”

She didn’t move. Could hardly take in what Fairfax was saying, not to mention the performative nature of his delivery. She’d all but settled in. Had already started to organise his affairs...

He seemed equally conflicted. Lowering his voice slightly he came towards her. “We will more than recompense you for your time and, of course, you can keep the clothes.”

“Keep— Do you think I care about the damned clothes?” Jane could barely keep from shaking, her turn to raise her voice. She grabbed a carrier and flung it as far down the drive as she could. She lunged for another, but Fairfax was too quick for her and in one smooth move had transferred their handles to one hand whilst grabbing her arm with the other.

“Stop it. Stop. It. Get inside, Jane, now.” He glanced around again. “We’re not having this conversation here. In fact, we’re not going to have this conversation at all. Caster will take you to the station first thing tomorrow. He’ll put you on the first train out of here.”

Not letting her go, he turned towards the house and all but dragged her with him, she pulling and resisting all the way. How dare he! She gave one last attempt to tear herself away, but his grip tightened and soon they were at the side entrance and into the kitchen where Christina stood, waiting.

Only then did Fairfax relax his grip. Jane could hardly contain herself as she shrugged it off and glared at the Varencourt. “Why? Why have you taken my job? You told me it was you who’d insisted on employing me in the first place. If you wanted it, why bother?”

The housekeeper bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Jane. Truly. But it’s … it’s for the best. There are things about this place you don’t underst—”

“Enough!” shouted Fairfax. “She needs to know no more than she has to, Christina. Make sure Jane has something to eat and then goes straight to her room. Caster will be here at 7am sharp. She has absolutely got to be out of here before tomorrow.”

He strode towards the door but Jane was too quick for him. Beating him to it, she turned to face him, her usual composure giving way to pure temper. “No. No! Tell me. Tell me what I have done!”

Fairfax stared back at her, pumping his fists into his palms.

“You think you can belong here? You think with your shy smile and winning little ways, you could inveigle yourself into my interests? My life?! Might it also be that you have other ambitions, girl? I’ve seen the way you look at me. Hah, well, if you have, its best you are disabused of them this very minute. I have no need for you, no desire for your work, your company, or for any service you might deem fit to offer me. I want you gone. Gone as soon as convenience allows.”

It took a few seconds, but when Jane fully processed the implication of Fairfax’s words, her heart seemed to explode in utter rage and humiliation.

“You believe… You actually believe my interest in staying is more to do with being with you than the work you offer? That in your arrogance you presume I might see myself as the future mistress of Thornfield Hall? I have no idea where that impression came from, but I’ll be the one to disabuse you of it. Right now. I’m going. This minute. I won’t spend another night under your blasted roof.”

“Jane—” the Varencourt began.

“No. No! I’m not listening to you, Christina. You, all smiles and welcome. I have never had a proper home. Never had a friend. I thought I finally found both here. I feel used and humiliated. I’m sure you have a way of raising Caster, for I do not want to share a vehicle with—” she glanced at Fairfax, “—him! Call him. Call Caster. If he’s not here in half an hour, I’ll walk it to the station.”

She brushed past Fairfax and headed for her room. She needed to pack.

“Why did you have to say all those things to her?” Christina said, after a long minute had passed.

“Because she had to be under no illusions I wanted her here. I had to make it impossible for her to stay.”

“Well you certainly did that. It was ill-advised, Edward. You went too far. It isn’t safe for her out there. She needs to go tomorrow.”

“I doubt anyone could persuade her to do so. My words were deliberately chosen. She does not belong here. The last train’s in an hour. Get Caster. They’ve just enough time to make it. Tell him he’s not to leave her alone. Even if it means staying there all night.”

***

The storm did not abate as Jane made her way to Caster’s landrover. In fact, it was getting worse. It crossed her mind that the wind was so high, the train might not run. Too bad. There was a waiting room at the station. If necessary, she’d spend the night there and if it was locked, she’d break in. Nothing … nothing could persuade her to stay despite Christina’s efforts.

“Please, Jane…” she’d pleaded.

“Don’t speak to me, Christina. Don’t even try. What he said to me was … unforgivable. I’d rather die than stay here another night.”

Christina, devasted and uncharacteristically bedraggled in her drenched parka, looked aghast as Jane climbed into the car.

She didn’t look back.

Calmer, but not by much, Jane refused to cry as they made their way down the long drive. It was bad enough that she should have to tolerate the angry, I-told-you-so glances from Caster. He had no words for her and that suited her just fine.

She prayed the storm wouldn’t get worse, only half-regretting her decision not to stay until tomorrow. She supposed there’d be no problem getting the early train—unless they told Caster to stay with her. She hoped to God it wouldn’t come to that. It would be yet another humiliation.

What had changed? Something had, for sure. She had not mistaken Christina’s friendship and generosity—or that of Fairfax. He had been prepared to take her on. She’d already made inroads into his many business affairs. So what had happened? And why wouldn’t they tell her?

Her glance rested on the pathetic collection of pastel carrier bags that filled the back seat. She grimaced. Fairfax must have put them there. Well, they could damn well stay there. Wild horses wouldn’t persuade her to wear their contents again.

Her fury—though not her resolve—was fast abating, giving way to a growling stomach. And the storm was getting worse, the wind careering across the moors to make the landie shudder and sway on its journey. They were approaching the sweeping incline of Darkmoor Hill, looming ahead like the start of a murky fairground dipper. It had made her nervous the first time she made the journey to Thornfield. She felt herself take in a breath as they began the assent.

They nearly made it to the top. Nearly. Suddenly, the world flashed white! With a loud, electric crack, the engine lost power to the counter force of the wild, wailing wind and made a sickening swerve off the road. Caster shouted, “Hold on Miss!” as he tried to keep control of the car, wrestling the wheel as it hurtled down the incline.

“Get your head down,” shrieked Caster. “We’re going—”

Over.

Over and over and over.

The crash seemed to go on forever until there was no more wind, no more thunder, no more lightning.

Just a world gone black.