Chapter 3: The Departure from the Manor
By midnight, the grand estate was bathed in heavy, cool rain.
The caterers had packed their silver trays and left through the service gates; the luxury sedans had vanished down the winding driveway into the mist.
In the grand foyer, three leather suitcases stood beside the towering double doors of carved English oak.
Victoria stood by the marble fireplace, wearing a dark trench coat over her green dress, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes were red, but her lips were pressed into a hard, bitter line.
""You destroyed my marriage, Mother,"" Victoria said coldly, refusing to look at the woman who had raised her. ""Julian will be indicted by the grand jury by Friday. You ruined our lives to give our home to strangers.""
Ellen stood on the bottom riser of the grand staircase, holding a simple wool shawl around her shoulders.
""Julian destroyed his own marriage when he decided that money was more important than honor, Victoria,"" Ellen replied gently. ""And these children are not strangers. They are the sons and daughters of the workers whose pensions your husband tried to steal.""
Victoria grabbed her suitcase handle with a sharp, violent jerk.
""I will never step foot on this property again,"" Victoria hissed.
""The doors will always be open to you, Victoria,"" Ellen whispered, her eyes filled with sorrowful, unconditional love. ""Whenever you are ready to put down the mirror and pick up the tools.""
Victoria pulled open the heavy oak door, stepped out into the pouring rain, and got into the waiting taxi, disappearing into the dark woods of Greenwich.
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Ellen stood alone in the vast, echoing foyer. She listened to the rain drum against the leaded glass windows, feeling the great stone walls around her breathe with a new, unburdened purpose.
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