“Haven't you?”
“Obviously not! I have wanted to see you for so long.”
“And now you have, but now there is another matter that needs your attention.”
“But-”
“Go, come back to me when you have settled matters of the heart. I expect an invitation to the wedding.”
Rose’s face softened. “Thank you, my dearest sister.”
After that, everything seemed to rush together. One minute they were packing and planning and then next they were gone, leaving only silence in their wake.
Sighing, Veronica set off to find Daisy and return to her work.
And so, sometime later, the pair found themselves growing closer and closer to the restricted section.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Daisy hesitated, looking up from her notes. She chewed her lip. “Perhaps we should wait for Duke Danton to return.”
“I think we can handle it between the two of us, but you can just stand there and jot down what I tell you if it would make you feel better.”
Daisy let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Veronica chuckled and set to work. She made her way up a rickety wooden staircase, making notes on where the wall paper had rotted away and other things of note before she felt the ground shaking beneath her feet.
She grimaced, tightening her hands on the railing. “The whole staircase should be looked at my a carpenter.”
“What do you mean? Are you safe up there?”
But before Veronica could answer, the door flew open and Christopher flew inside.
“What do you think you’re doing up there?” he bellowed, deep voice thundering off the crumbling walls.
“I was just trying to see what work this part of the house needed,” done,” she said, her voice rising defensively.
“In the restricted section!”
“Yes, that’s the place that needs the most work!”
That’s exactly why you shouldn’t be there! Did you ever stop to wonder why it was restricted?”
She hesitated, and before she could think of a response, he continued on his tirade.
“Its because it isn’t safe. I am the only one who knows that part of the house well enough to avoid getting hurt! I’ve already lost too much and I won’t lose anything else. Now get out of there.”
Guilt washed over her. “I- I’m sorry.” Her thoughts went to his scars. His isolation. Everything she had took from him in the fire. “I’ll be right down.”
She started making her way down the stairs, eyes locked on the ground.
How had she bene so thoughtless? How had she let herself start to forget everything she had done? How-
A sickening crack sounded through the air.
The very floor beneath her feet fell out from under Veronica. She screamed as the ground below raced up to meet her.
“Veronica!” Christopher’s cry cut through the air. His feet pounded over the floor, carefully making his way along the safe part of the floor until he was kneeling by her side. “Someone go get a physician!” he bellowed, sending Daisy scurrying.
He turned his focus back to the woman in front of him. “Veronica, can you hear me?”
