12
Bessie, now housekeeper, is moving forward to meet Ianto. "Bless you! - I knew you'd come."
They embrace.
"Bessie... I'm not too late? How is Mrs Reid?"
"She may linger yet a while." Bessie replies "She's spoken of you daily. At first we couldn't tell what she was saying but when her speech came clear we heard 'Ianto Jones, get Ianto Jones.' repeated."
"Shall I see her now?"
"I'll take you up directly. But look at you. What a lovely man you've become. Why you're almost pretty."
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Ianto takes his aunt's hand. Mrs Reid looks very near death. "Aunt Reid? It is Ianto Jones. You sent for me, and here I am."
Mrs Reid, with an effort, pulls her hand away from Ianto's. "No one knows the trouble I have with that child. Such a burden. Left on my hands. Speaking to me like a fiend. The fever at Torchwood One. He should have died!"
"Why do you hate him so?"
"His mother. Reid's sister – his beloved. When news came of her death he wept like a fool. Sent for the baby. Sickly thing – not strong like mine. But Reid loved it. Kept it by his bed. Made me vow to bring the creature up. Why did he not love mine?"
The words are a revelation to Ianto. Mrs Reid gazes at her. "Who are you?"
"I am Ianto Jones, Aunt."
"You. Is there no one in the room?"
Ianto motions Bessie to go.
"We are alone."
"I've twice done you wrong. I broke the vow I made to Reid…"
"Please, don't think of it"
"I am dying; I must get it out!" Mrs Reid indicates a box on her bedside table. "Open that box. Take out the letter. Read it."
Ianto obeys. He reads the letter aloud.
"Madam, will you have the goodness to send me the address of my nephew, Ianto Jones. I desire him to come to me at Madeira. Fortune has blessed my endeavours and as I am childless I wish to adopt him and bequeath him at my death whatever I may have to leave. Yours, James Jones, Madeira."
Ianto is stunned. "This is dated three years ago. Why did I never hear of it?"
"Because I wrote and told him you had died of typhus at Torchwood One school. You fury." She sobbed "You were born to be my torment. I'll never forget how you turned on me and raged. You called the names of the dead down upon me. I was afraid."
"Forgive me."
"You cursed me."
"I would have loved you if you'd let me."
"My life has been cursed."
"Please, let us be reconciled." Ianto pleads. Mrs Reid shrinks from Ianto's touch. Ianto wipes his tears. "Then love me or hate me as you will. You have my full and free forgiveness. Now ask for God's - and be at peace."
Mrs Reid's eyes close.
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The morning sun is pouring in. Ianto goes to the bed. He puts his hand upon it, gently, as if thanking his uncle for all he did. He notices a picture on the wall. A miniature of a brown-haired woman with elfin eyes.
Ianto takes it off the wall. Bessie comes in. "My mother."
Bessie nods. A tear rolls down Ianto's face. he clasps the picture, looking round the room. "Why ever was I so afraid?"
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A coach pulls up in the lane near Torchwood. Ianto gets out. We hear his voice on the wind as the letter he wrote is read out.
My dear uncle, some years ago, my Aunt Reid mistakenly informed you that I had died.
Ianto is walking through the wooded glade where he first met Jack. All is green and verdant and bathed in sunset light. There seems to be life everywhere.
I am writing to tell you that I am very much alive and living at Torchwood Hall, where I am currently Handler to the ward of Mr Jack Edward Harkness …
"There you are." A voice cuts in and Ianto turns. Jack is sitting on the stile where they first met. For a moment, his every nerve is unstrung. "Just like one of your tricks to steal into your home along with the twilight. Where the hell have you been this last month?"
"I have been with my aunt sir, who is dead."
Jack laughs. "A true Jonesian reply. If I dared I'd touch you, to see if you were real..."
Ianto puts out his hand. Jack takes it. He helps Ianto over the stile. "Go home - stay your wandering feet at a friend's threshold."
Ianto lets go of his hand. "Thank you Mr Jack. I'm strangely glad to get back again to you. Wherever you are is my home."
Ianto, knowing he has said too much, turns and runs over The fields towards Torchwood.
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Alice's parlour - evening
Ianto is on a low seat, Toshiko nestling close to her.
"We're expecting the announcement very soon."Alice is gushing happily "He went down to London only last week to buy her a new carriage."
"Then we must accept it. He'll Soon bring home his bride." Ianto tries not to show his despair.
Alice nods.
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Ianto is alone, drinking in the beauty of the evening - looking at the gardens as if he may never see them again. He turns a corner and sees Jack staring intently at something. His back is to him. He is about to tiptoe away.
"Come and look at this fellow, Ianto."
Ianto approaches, wondering how he has sensed his presence. Jack is looking at a huge moth. "Look at his wings. He looks West Indian - I have never seen one like him, here. There; flown."
They watch the moth as it flies towards the house.
"Torchwood is a pleasant place in summer, isn't it?" Jack asks wistfully.
"I'll be sad to leave it."
"Yes, but it can't be helped. I soon hope to be a bridegroom." Jack nodded.
"Have you found me a new situation, sir?" Ianto asks, hating the whine in his voice.
"A situation, yes of course." Jack looks at him and then smiles "It's the least I can do for a faithful paid subordinate such as yourself. You're to undertake the education of the five daughters of Mrs Dionysus O'Gall of Bitternut Lodge, Connaught."
"Connaught?" Ianto tries not to gape at the thought.
"You'll like Ireland. They're such warm-hearted people, they say." Jack seems to be shaking something off, will not look at Ianto now.
"It is a long way away, sir."
"From what?"
"From here." Ianto replies, then adds softly "From you."
"We've been good friends, Ianto haven't we? But with the Irish sea between us you'd soon forget me." Jack tries to brush if off.
Ianto's great distress escapes into the open before he can school himself "I wish I could. I wish I'd never come here. I love Torchwood - I've lived a full life here. I've not been trampled on or petrified or buried with inferior minds. I've talked face to face with what I reverence, with what I delight in. I've known you Mr Jack …"
"Then why must you be torn from me?" Jack is suddenly intense, wanting to seize Ianto in the way his hands clench at his sides.
"Because of your bride."
"I have no bride."
"But you will have."
"Yes, I will."
"Then I must go."
"You must stay" Jack demands.
"Do you think I could stay to become nothing to you? Am I an automaton, a machine without feelings?" Ianto splutters, his arms flapping as he demands "Do you think that because I am poor, obscure, plain and little that I am soulless and heartless?"
"IANTO" Jack sighs.
Ianto continues to rave "I have as much soul as you and full as much heart. I'm not speaking to you through mortal flesh. It's my spirit that addresses your spirit as if we'd passed through the grave and stood at God's feet, equal – as we are."
Jack takes Ianto in his arms. "As we are."
Ianto struggles away from him.
"Let me go."
"NO"
"I'm a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you." Ianto snarls.
Jack releases him. Ianto stands in front of him.
"Then let your will decide your destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart and a share of all this." Jack grandly states. He gestures towards the house, the land. Ianto is stunned. "I ask you to pass through life at my side. Ianto, you are my equal and my likeness. It is you I intend to marry."
"Are you mocking me?"