Chapter 21: The Meriweathers

Eve and Sarah were thrown about as the stage coach lurched back and forth and bumped about with every dip and curve in the dirt road it followed. They resorted to clinging to one another to keep steady and couldn't help but feel sorry for the men, who, for chivalry's sake sat on the top of the coach so the women could be protected from the elements. There were two chatty girls, however, that made Eve and Sarah wish they could be on the roof with the others. The two girls incessantly chatted about men and courtship but, above all, they gossiped about everyone. Eve and Sarah learned more than they ever needed to about the small town the girls hailed from. When the coach made the stop where the girls were to get off, Eve and Sarah breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought they'd never stop talking," Sarah sighed.

"They didn't," Eve joked.

The stage coach jerked forward, nearly throwing Eve and Sarah on the floor. Mrs. Cabbett laughed quietly to herself at the sight. The coach suddenly stopped again and a woman with five young girls started to load her bags. Eve didn't notice, she had pulled out a little book and started to read when it came to a stop again. Mrs. Cabbett wouldn't dare ask Sarah to get out because of her condition. There wasn't much room left in the carriage. Mrs. Cabbett decided it would be best if they got out.

"Poor Mr. Villeneuve," Mrs. Cabbett chimed, "sitting up there all alone. It's a nice day outside, a bit of sun wouldn't hurt you and me, Eve."

"Oh, Mrs. Cabbett, I'm quit comfortable inside the coach," she said, not wishing to get out. Mrs. Cabbett grabbed her arm and pulled her out. Sarah frowned but stayed still as the woman crowded into the coach with her children. A man helped Eve and Mrs. Cabbett to the top of the coach and they sat down. A smug smile crept across Jean's face as Eve sat next to him. There had only been one other person with him the whole time. Eve tied her hat on her head and tried to get comfortable. The carriage jerked forward and Eve tried to keep from falling off the coach. Jean steadied her and she found herself clinging to his arm during the time she had to be there.

…

The Meriweather's Parish cottage starkly showed against the dark blue green rocky hills that surrounded it. The ocean was only about one hundred feet from the home and the air was salty and wet. There was a slight fog in the air when the stagecoach arrived and stopped a mile away from the home. It was the wee hours of the morning on a Sunday and the girls were trying to stay awake. The young women's trunks were thrown to the ground by the grumpy stagecoach driver. He looked drunk, Eve thought. Perhaps he had sucked down too much gin to keep warm during the long night's ride. When he tossed one of Eve's trunks down onto the ground, it rolled down the hill and thumped against a rock, spilling its contents onto the grass. Eve rubbed her temples and Jean began to laugh suddenly, causing Mrs. Cabbett to giggle. Sarah glared up at him but Eve began to laugh too. The long journey was so grueling, Eve barely slept a wink and was a bit giddy. She ran down the hill and the stagecoach jolted off, flinging dust in their faces. Eve reached the trunk and quickly began to stuff all her things away. The trunk surprisingly closed and latched despite its tumble but it had a huge scratch on its side. She grabbed the rope and dragged it up the hill but Jean met her half way and took the task from her. She didn't object. It was a steep hill. Eve set foot back on the path and looked down the hill at the white cottage in the distance.

"It will be a long walk," Sarah complained, "I don't feel like walking."

Eve took her wrist and pulled her along the path, huffing at the great weight of the trunk she dragged. Sarah groaned and let go of the ropes to her trunks tiredly.

Jean looked at her worriedly and picked up the ropes. He tried not to show too much worry for her. She was tired of everyone pitying her.

…..

Mrs. Meriweather, Eve's aunt, looked out the window as she was getting ready for church. She squinted and saw three figures coming down the hill path. She gasped and scurried downstairs. Her husband, a tall, thin man with spectacles, looked up the stairs and cocked his eyebrow, wondering why his wife was so ecstatic.

"Calm down dear," he laughed, "dear goodness, what could be so-"

"It's Eve!"

Her husband dropped his book on the table, took his spectacles off, and tried to find his way around the house to gather everyone, as if he had forgotten his way around his own home.

"That would be just like my brother," Mrs. Meriweather said in a huff, "to send us the letter just before she arrives. I just received the letter yesterday!"

"Mama, calm down," Mary, her second eldest daughter, said from her reading spot in the window seat.

"Mary!" her mother shouted, pulling her up, "be quick! wake up your brothers and sisters and tidy up!"

Mary rolled her eyes and rushed up the stairs. They only had one servant, a maid, who wasn't able to do all the work in the house. All the girls in the household had their share of chores. Their father's position as a clergyman didn't earn him much money. He was fortunate enough that Lady Davidson, one of the richest women in Devonshire, had decided to be his benefactor and had taken him on to preach at the chapel located on her estate. She let him live in the old parsonage on her property and would drop by from time to time to make sure that the Meriweathers were living a life she approved of. She scrutinized them well.

…

Mrs. Meriweather had not seen her niece since her brother moved his family to France. She could recognize Eve and Mrs. Cabbett but she could not tell who the two people accompanying her were. Her husband looked over her shoulder and stared in the same direction.

"Did your brother happen to mention other guests?" he asked in wonder.

"No," Mrs. Meriweather giggled nervously.

"I'm glad you have a sense of humor about this," he laughed, "We must be quick to receive them. I must be at the church soon."

"It had to be a sunday," she groaned.

…

All of the Meriweather clan hurried about to receive Eve. It wasn't too long before she was at the door, knocking. The girls had no time to dress. They had to pull on their dressing robes and hurry downstairs. The men were already dressed, seeing as how their clothes were easier to put on. Mary's seventeen year old sister, Jane, was fussing over her hair, which was in a long braid and looked a bit tussled from sleep. Mary stopped her from fussing and took her hand away from her hair. The maid opened the door and Eve smiled wide. She was tired and too overjoyed to be at her destination. Her aunt ran forward and braced the young woman's face with her hands, kissing her on the forehead. She was happy to see her niece.

"Oh you poor dear, you must be so tired," her aunt coddled her as she brushed a piece of fly away hair out of Eve's eyes.

Eve nodded. Her cousins were crowded around her and she was beginning to feel the air being knocked out of her from all their hugs. She had nearly forgotten how loving and warm the Meriweathers were. Her uncle came to her rescue, gently pulling them all away.

"Now, let's greet our guests formally," he chuckled.

"Auntie, may I introduce my friend, Sarah, my father's friend, Mr. Villeneuve, and you, of course, know, Mrs. Cabbett," Eve introduced them.

"It is a pleasure to have guests," her uncle spoke up, "please forgive us for our improper attire. We are preparing to head to church in a couple hours and we were caught off guard."

Jean nodded in understanding. He didn't care too much if someone was illy attired to receive him. It was the farthest thing from his mind. He was looking around the quaint parsonage, examining his surroundings. Sarah curtsied and held her stomach. She was trying not to vomit. She was too tired to stand any longer and nearly slumped to the floor.

Mrs. Meriweather wore a look of confusion and looked at Sarah. With one glance, she knew Sarah was pregnant. She recognized all the symptoms.

"Oh dear," she said, "you need to lay down."

"Perhaps I could stay home from church to help mama with our guest?" Mary suggested. Her father looked down at her and she shrunk back. He knew what she was trying to do.

Eve helped her aunt with Sarah and got her upstairs. There were two beds in Mary and Jane's room. Mrs. Meriweather sat Sarah down on one of them.

"This will be your room for the next few months. You'll have to share a bed," Mrs. Meriweather said, "I'm sorry dear, I know you're used to having your own."

"I can bear it," Eve said light heartily.

"Now, am I correct to assume that you're-" Mrs. Meriweather motioned a rounded belly towards Sarah. She nodded and Mrs. Meriweather rushed to the dressing table and wetted down a rag. She placed it on Sarah's forehead and sat down on the other bed.

"Where is your husband?" Mrs. Meriweather asked innocently. Sarah blushed and looked at the floor. Eve sat down beside her slowly, hoping her aunt wouldn't come to the truth.

"Oh-" Mrs. Meriweather said knowingly, "Well, we'll just have to allow Lady Davidson to believe you're a widow, won't we? That's a bit of a tough situation isn't it?"

Sarah looked up at the woman in shock. She expected that they would have her packing and leaving immediately if they found out the truth.

"Will Uncle be alright with her staying here?" Eve asked worriedly.

"Don't worry about him. He's a man of God and his heart is too big to turn her away," she said, "now, Lady Davidson is the one we have to look out for." She chuckled.

Eve rubbed Sarah's back and looked up when Jean entered the door with Eve's luggage dragging behind him. Her oldest cousin, Joshua, was lugging Sarah's trunks up the stairs. The girls could hear him bashing around as he pulled the trunk, letting it hit every step on the way up.

"Well, Mr. Villeneuve, I don't know if you're accustomed to our type of church but you're welcome to join us if you wish," Mrs. Meriweather said cheerfully. Jean's eyes lit up with excitement much to Eve's surprise. What she didn't know was that Jean preferred to attend non catholic sermons. They were different to him. He was used to Mass but he found the less formal church to be more to his liking. He attended mass every Sunday, the best he could, but he never truly looked forward to it. Eve had attended a few masses herself but she missed church in England. She did not know latin and found it hard to pay attention in mass.

…..

Eve let out a grunt of exhaustion as she pushed herself up the massive hill. The air was sharp and salty, which hurt her lungs. She pushed forward, clinging to the little bible she had brought with her and clutching her hat to her head. It was windy and Eve's ribbons were whipping about in the wind. Jean was the victim of several slaps from them. Eve struggled with her hat and lost grip of it. It flew away and she gasped in shock. Jean jumped into action, running as fast as he could to grab it. Jane started laughing and Sarah caught up to Eve, catching her breath.

"You're blind if you can't see it," Sarah said to her before walking ahead. Eve looked back at her friend and didn't notice that Jean had caught her hat for her. She turned back around and recomposed herself before he placed her hat back on for her and tied a bow with the ribbons under her chin. She cleared her throat and thanked him before trekking on toward the church. Jean kept his frustration locked deep inside. It pained him how polite she was, as if she was afraid of his affection. He sucked in the salty air and let out a quiet huff as he continued walking behind the group.