Meredith fled back to Uncle Ben’s room. Mrs. Todd took one look at her and hastily got up from the chair to close the bedroom door so they could speak alone.
“What happened?” she asked in a whisper. “Your face is red, child.”
“Harry. He…” Meredith’s voice had become shaky, and she felt sick to her stomach.
Mrs. Todd’s tone grew sharp. “He hurt you?”
“Only my arm.” Meredith winced as she held out her wrist, which was already bruising.
“Tell me everything he said and did,” the housekeeper insisted.
Meredith explained about the letter in the study and Uncle Ben’s wish to send her to London to Darius, who would take her in. And then she explained how Harry had found her leaving Ben’s study.
“We must pack your things at once. I won’t have you hurt on my watch, child.”
“But I cannot leave Uncle Ben —”
“You won’t. But I want you ready to depart the second he passes.” Mrs. Todd said. “I shall see to everything.”
Meredith nodded and sank warily back in her chair at uncle Ben’s bedside. She yawned and laid her head down on her bended arms just to rest for a few moments.
“Wake up. Wake up, child.” Mrs. Todd’s voice pulled Meredith from the depths of dream. The room was dark except for a single lit candle. Uncle Ben lay still in bed.
She reached for her uncle’s hand, which was now still and cold within her own. No… he’d passed away while she’d been asleep.
“He’s gone, child. Slipped away a short while ago. You were so tired, I didn’t have the heart to wake you. But he knew you were here with him. That’s what matters.”
Meredith stared at Uncle Ben’s face in the candlelight. His features had relaxed and his eyes were closed. The pain that he ravaged his face for weeks was gone at last.
“Did he…suffer?” she asked.
The housekeeper wiped a tear away. “No child. He was looking at you while you slept. Then he smiled, and then after one last breath he was simply…gone.”
Meredith covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle a sob. She leapt out of the chair. The housekeeper pulled her into an embrace, gently rubbing her back.
“There, there, my dear. It’s all right. It’s all right.”
But it wasn’t all right. It would never be all right again. The pain in her chest was unbearable. She wanted to scream, to break a vase or, anything to escape the raw inferno of agony that was destroying her heart.
“Breathe, love. Breathe,” Mrs. Todd urged. She placed a hand on Meredith’s cheek. “You’ll survive this, my dear.”
Meredith managed a nod, but she didn’t agree. She was dying inside.
“Say your goodbyes to him, and then we must get you out of this house.”
Meredith had almost forgotten Harry’s threat. There was no time to waste. She bent and pressed a trembling kiss to her uncle’s forehead. Her tears fell upon his waistcoat as she straightened and frantically wiped at her eyes.
“I have you packed, Miss Meredith. Joseph has the coach waiting. He will take you to the stagecoach down the road. I have secured your passage all the way to London. If you need to rest, you can stay in a coaching inn along the way, and the passage will still be good the next day.”
“I have a bit of money …” Meredith began. She’d been saving her pin money.
“I found it and tucked it into your reticule which is with your valise. Be quick now. Master Henry is still asleep. I want you long gone before he wakes. There’s no telling what kind of ideas will get into his head.”
They hastened downstairs. The house was still quiet and dark. It was a few hours until dawn. Not even the servants were up and about yet, except for the groom, Joseph, who waited for her outside by Uncle Ben’s coach.
Meredith hugged Mrs. Todd. “Thank you.”
“Write to me when you reach London now, or else I’ll worry.” The older woman gave Meredith one last hug. Then Joseph helped Meredith into the coach and they were off.
