Chapter Fourteen
"Would you like a drink? I know I need one." Jarrod asked, as he and Victoria faced each other in the back parlor. "I never foresaw anything like this, especially with Heath. Now Nick" he trailed off as he walked over to pour some scotch.
"I will pass on anything to drink, since I will be getting up early tomorrow. I really thought things were going well with Heath and Sarah after my talks." Victoria sighed with sorrow.
"I can't even begin to imagine the talk you will have to have with her now." Jarrod had been aware of his mother's trip to San Francisco, and its purpose. He left unspoken the thought that Victoria had experience with this kind of situation.
"Jarrod, what you said about Magda's letter – is it possible that Heath isn't Simon's father?" The question was asked cautiously, and Jarrod could see that his mother was hoping for a positive answer.
"No, I am very sure that Heath is the boy's father, based on the timing of his stay in Mexico and Simon's birthday." He was in front of the fireplace, while Victoria was standing by the desk. "Heath was in Mexico November of 1876, and Simon was born in August of 1877; Magda and Erick married in February of 1877." Jarrod stopped while she did the math.
"Isn't it possible that the couple were already involved when Heath was down there?" Victoria's voice had a note of anguish in it, and Jarrod went over to put his arm around her.
"Lovely Lady, I think that boy is Heath's – the family resemblance is remarkable. I said what I did to Heath, because in the end he has no legal claim to Simon." His voice was somber as he went on "I'm afraid that Heath has a lot of sorrow ahead of him."
"I am hopeful that I can at least calm Sarah down." Victoria said with a nod of her head. "I'm going to bed now but will see you tomorrow." Good nights were said, and Jarrod was left alone, to sit in his thinking chair with too many thoughts running through his head.
Meanwhile upstairs
"Can you tell me what I missed while I was in the kitchen with Simon?" Priscilla asked Nick once they were in their room with the door shut. She sat down at her dressing table and took off her pearl necklace and earrings. The velvet case for the necklace was on the table, and after the luminous orbs with their diamond clasp was put away, the earrings were put into a different box.
Nick pulled up his chair – it was designed with his height in mind – and sat by the dressing table. Usually this was his favorite time of day, helping her undress; tonight, though was different because of what had happened earlier. He reached over for the button hook and started to carefully undo the tiny fabric covered buttons at the back of the dress.
"Well Heath told us about his relationship with Simon's mother and when it" Nick went on to tell the whole story, finishing with a sigh. He had been undoing the buttons as he talked, liking how it calmed him down. In truth he was so shocked at the revelation about his brother – the man of illegitimate birth had sired a son the same way.
"So, this Magda was Hungarian, and she came to Mexico with the Austrians? That explains Simon's hair and his faith." Priscilla turned from the mirror to look at him as she made the observation. Nick knew he could not hide his sorrow and shock from her wide-eyed gaze.
"You don't seem as upset as you were when Heath and Simon first came." She turned back around but looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Can you undo my stays?"
"Sissi I was so shocked and surprised when Heath walked in with Simon, and then I became angry when you were struggling to get up after talking to Simon. I thought it unfair for you to have to deal with this situation." Nick's hands had slowly run down to back, to below her waist where the tie for the corset was. He undid the bow, and then loosened the garment. At this stage of her condition she wasn't lacing the corset very tight, but he was sure that any pressure on her body was uncomfortable.
"We are family, Heath is family, and this is what families do – you yourself know that." Priscilla smiled as she stood up, to step out of her dress and remove her corset. Nick was distracted by her standing there in her chemise and pantaloon – pale blue silk trimmed with white lace and pink ribbon. He had noted that even when she was far along, Priscilla always took care with her undergarments.
"It is very evident that Heath has acknowledged Simon as his and wants to raise him." Nick sighed, shaking his head. "The attitude he took with Jarrod surprised me, but I know that Heath has had a bad night."
"Frankly, the best thing for Simon is for Jarrod to find his grandparents and let them take custody." Priscilla stated, before she reached for her night dress which was laid out on a chair next to the dressing table.
"You really think that is best? Why?" Nick was curious to hear her reasoning. He respected her experience with children, so trusted what she would say.
"Heath is not in a good place with Sarah; yes he wants a child but how would he take care of one?" Priscilla sniffed "Sarah has never displayed any interest in anyone else's children, and Simon is nothing more to her than an embarrassment. Heath doesn't see that, being too wrapped up in having a son."
"So you would take them both to task?" Nick asked an amused tone in his voice. He had always admired how his wife could cut to the heart of any issue and did not suffer fools. It hurt him to acknowledge both that Heath's personal life was mess, and he was being very foolish with his marriage and the young boy.
"I washed my hands with Sarah a long time ago, but still feel sympathy for her in this matter – Heath is clearly only thinking of Simon, or rather his feelings toward having a son." Her annoyance was very apparent in her voice. Nick understood, but also knew how much Heath had wanted children.
"Aside from his personal life Heath brings another complication to Simon staying in the valley. His arrival will reopen the whole issue of Heath's birth. That will have ramifications for Simon as he grows older and be unfair to him." Priscilla spoke slowly, and Nick understood what she was telling him.
"Yes, I see now, and you are right about it would be best for Simon to go with his grandparents." Nick was not surprised that Priscilla was putting Simon's feelings ahead of Heath's. She had a natural empathy with children, which is why she had been such a good teacher. "Let's hope Jarrod finds the grandparents before Heath becomes too attached to Simon."
Another thought occurred to him but was not sure how to bring it up to her. He did not want her to be inconvenienced right now, but from what Jarrod had said it would be best for Simon to stay at the Big House. Priscilla's next words solved his dilemma.
"We are going to have to get Rosalie some help Nick! There are three children in the nursery now, and I am due next month. It would be too much to expect her to care for the boys and the baby." Priscilla turned to face him, and he noticed that she was still in her undergarments.
"Bows on your dress, bows on your underwear, and a bow in your hair; you are always my best present." Nick's smile was soft, and he went to reach for the bow holding her chemise together.
"You are not distracting me, Nicholas." Priscilla stepped back but gave him a saucy smile. He chuckled and gave her a leering look, before returning to the conversation.
"I am glad you brought that up Sissi because I don't want you to tire yourself out. You didn't go to church last Sunday, and I know your feet have been swelling at times." He looked down at her ankles and could see they were puffy. "You should be in bed with your feet up right now" he added in a concerned tone.
The next several minutes were spent with him helping her out of her undergarments and into her night dress. The garment was made of lavender colored lawn fabric with insets of cream-colored lace; it was soft to the touch and flowed over her body. Nick then helped her undo her hair and brush it out before she put it into a braid.
"Now you get in bed, and I will go change and join you. We can continue talking then." He led her over to the bed and helped her get settled. Nick noticed how gratefully she sank against the pillows. He came back several minutes later, in his drawers and settled under the covers next to her. She snuggled against him, as he put his arms around her.
"How are you going to manage Simon? And teach him English?" Nick went back to the conversation they were having earlier. "You need to be resting and getting ready for the baby." He knew that getting some more help would only solve some of the problems.
"Granny Elspeth is due back from Los Angeles in a couple of weeks; her plan was to be here for the birth. I am going to ask her to come sooner; she always likes a new project." Priscilla told him with a smile, and Nick felt some of the worry leaving him. If Elspeth were back in the nursery, she would make sure that Priscilla took it easy.
"I appreciate how concerned you are for me, Nicholas. Thank you." She reached up and kissed him softly, which he returned. He knew that he turned into a mother hen when she was with child, making people crazy. It was just that he loved her so much and could not imagine life without her. The thought of not having her in his life made him think of Heath and Sarah.
"Can I ask you, Sissi, what would your reaction be if it was me and not Heath?" Nick held his breath after speaking. "You know my past, so it is not out of the question." He had come to terms with everything he had done and the reasons why.
"Are you concerned that I would throw you out of the house?" She sat up straight and looked him direct in the eyes. "As long as it was a child from before you met me – and Nicholas I am very good at math please keep in mind – then we would take the child in. However, if the circumstances did not add up, well you wouldn't be concerned about somewhere to live." Priscilla tossed her head and gave him a stare worthy of Granny Elspeth.
"Why is it different for us and not Heath?" Nick forced himself to explore the question further, even as he contemplated what Priscilla had said – anything that happened before they met was excusable – anything after that no way. He had been engaged to her half-sister at one time; the same woman who tried to murder Priscilla after killing her wealthy husband in Switzerland. Priscilla had forgiven and moved on to marry him.
"We have a good marriage, and we already have children." She stated slowly, and then her face took on a serious look. "You have always been honest with me, while Heath – with the best of intentions I am sure – hasn't shared a lot of his past with Sarah. You remember all that mayhem in Denver, and how he was almost arrested for murder because he didn't want to talk about his old friend?" Priscilla shook her head with a fed-up attitude.
"Then there is the fact that – unfair and unkind as it is – Heath is judged differently than you, because of his birth." She sighed and looked up at him in sorrow. "Your brother has worked hard to earn his place and the respect of the people of Stockton. As I said earlier, Simon's arrival will wipe all that away."
"Heath doesn't see it that way; Simon is his and he wants to take care of his son. I can't fault him for that." Nick replied, feeling bad for his brother.
"Well maybe once Victoria talks to Sarah she can talk to Heath. He didn't like what Jarrod was telling him." Priscilla rubbed her stomach and shifted slightly. "Ducky's feet are right under my ribs right now." She used the nickname they had come up with at dinner several weeks ago.
"I think we need to go to sleep; maybe Heath will see things differently in the morning. I'll try talking to him too, about Simon." Nick pulled her close and kissed her gently. He fell asleep quickly, to the sound of Priscilla's regular breathing.
Heath woke the next morning after a fitful night – between the alcohol on an almost empty stomach, finding out about Simon, and Sarah asking him to leave – sleep had been hard. There was also the weight of the guilt and shame he felt about Simon. He had done the thing he had sworn he would never do; the same thing his father had done.
He cursed himself for not believing his gut, all those years ago, that he and Magda had been intimate. Heath thought back to the morning after, in her office; how Magda had looked him straight in the eye as she denied the actions of the night before. He could now admit that he had been embarrassed at the condition he had been in, and what he had done his drunken haze. Believing what Magda said was soothing to his conscience. Hannah had always warned him that the easy way out could be the devil causing sin.
If only I had gone back to Mexico for the sale of the mine Heath ground his teeth, knowing it had been cowardice and embarrassment that had kept him away. He then recalled Jarrod's comment, that Magda and Erick were married by then; Heath realized that he had relinquished his rights the day he left Mexico. Yes, the easy way had led to sin, and the birth of an illegitimate child – Hannah was right again.
As he tossed and turned, he had worried about Victoria, and the gossip that was going to affect her all over again. He had also thought about Nick's attitude towards him last night. The shock had been apparent in his brother's face, along with his displeasure about the extra work Simon was going to cause.
The best answer for him to return home and take Simon with him – Sarah would be in San Francisco. The drawback though is that Simon would be alone most of the day, with just a nanny – one that probably spoke more Spanish than English. Heath knew the boy should be in school, but until he spoke English it could not happen.
Jarrod's comments also kept him awake, about how he did not have legal custody of Simon. He did not want his son to be raised by strangers in a foreign country. Magda had not wanted it either, he was sure, which was why she had written a letter. By the time the sun started to rise Heath was grateful to get up and get his day going.
"You look like hell. Didn't you get any sleep?" Nick's booming voice greeted him as he came out of his room. Heath looked at his brother standing there, hands on hips, looking well rested, and thought several unkind thoughts. He then remembered that he needed to placate Nick about Simon.
"No, I didn't – too much on my mind." Heath offered. "Listen, if I'd had anywhere else to go with Simon I would have, but here was my only option. I understand this will be extra work for Rosalie and Priscilla; can I offer to increase Rosalie's wages?" He held his breath, waiting to see how Nick reacted.
"As Priscilla said, we are family, and this is what families do." Nick replied, letting Heath know that his brother had told Priscilla the entire story. "She is planning on hiring someone to help Rosalie, so I suggest you talk to her about the extra wages. You will also need to do something nice for both Priscilla and Elspeth."
"Elspeth?" Heath asked, thinking about the stern Scotswoman who really ran the nursery. He did not agree with a lot of her policies about children, feeling they were too formal. It came to him that because of Simon and his situation, he would need to go along with Elspeth.
"Yes, Priscilla is going to ask her to come back from Los Angeles early to help out." Nick declared, starting to walk down the stairs. "Aren't you coming?" Heath had planned on going to the nursery, and said as much to Nick, who shook his head.
"No one is up yet, and the last thing you want to do is disturb sleeping children. I have learned that lesson." Nick gave him a knowing look, and Heath had to admit that his brother had more experience with the nursery regime. "Let us go get coffee and get out to the barn. This is a working ranch after all" with that statement he headed downstairs. Heath reluctantly followed him, wishing things had gone differently with Sarah. Simon could be in his house, and not in Elspeth's nursery.