She would have done the same for you, and more. You owe this to her children. You should be there for them, whenever they might need you.
It was not much of a solace, but it was enough to strengthen her resolve.
After all, the Duke would not have written to her if it was not extremely urgent. He was a part of Society and knew better than anyone what the stakes were, inviting her at such a late hour.
Upon arrival, she was met by the Duke’s valet, who seemed to have been waiting for her. His face was a mask of relief when he saw her.
“Lady Frances, thank you for coming so promptly,” he said as he led her through the dimly lit corridors of the manor to the twins’ room.
Inside, the scene tugged at her heartstrings. Christopher stood over the twins, his posture tense with concern. Edwin was asleep, his breathing finally even, but Ernest lay awake, his eyes wide until they landed on Frances. A visible wave of relief washed over the boy’s face.
“Frances!” he exclaimed softly.
Frances approached his bed, her expression soothing.
“Good evening, Ernest. I heard you’ve had a tough night,” she said gently, taking his hand in hers.
“I could not sleep.”
“That is not good, is it? How would you like it if I told you a story to sleep? Perhaps the one about the giant and the princess?”
Ernest’s face lit up immediately. Frances had chosen the story because she knew it was one that his mother used to tell him before bed.
She settled more comfortably beside him, her voice soft and soothing as she began the story.
“Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there was a beautiful princess named Elara. She lived in a grand castle surrounded by lush gardens and shimmering lakes. The people of the kingdom loved her dearly, for she was kind and wise, and her heart was as generous as the sun.”
Ernest’s eyes grew wide with anticipation.
“But beyond the peaceful lands of Princess Elara’s kingdom lay the dark and mysterious Forest of Shadows,” Frances continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It was said that a fearsome giant named Gorgorath lived there. He was a creature of immense size, with arms like tree trunks and a roar that could shake the mountains.”
“Was he very scary?” Ernest asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Frances nodded solemnly. “Oh, yes. Gorgorath was indeed very scary. He guarded a treasure deep within the forest—a treasure that many had sought but none had ever found. They said that whoever could retrieve the treasure would be granted a wish, a wish that could change their life forever.”
Ernest’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Did Princess Elara want the treasure?”
She loved that she had his attention. It was enough to get his mind distracted and get him comfortable enough to sleep peacefully.
Frances smiled, shaking her head. “No, dear Ernest. Princess Elara had everything she needed in her beautiful kingdom. But one day, a terrible storm swept through the land. The winds howled, and the rain poured down, and when the storm finally passed, Elara discovered that her most precious possession, a magical golden locket given to her by her late mother, was missing.”
Ernest gasped, his hands flying to his chest as if he could feel the princess’s loss.
His reaction was quite endearing, even though the situation itself was serious.
“Oh no! Did the giant take it?”
“Yes, the locket had been blown away by the storm and had landed in the Forest of Shadows. Princess Elara knew that she had to face Gorgorath and retrieve the locket, for it was the only way to keep her mother’s memory close to her heart.”
Ernest listened intently, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Was she scared?”
“Of course, she was scared,” Frances replied softly. “But Elara was also brave and determined. She gathered her courage and set off towards the forest. She walked through the dark, twisted trees, her heart pounding with fear. The path was treacherous, and shadows seemed to reach out to her at every turn.”
“But she didn’t stop,” Ernest whispered, caught up in the tale.
“No, she didn’t stop,” Frances agreed. “She continued onward, and soon she found herself standing before the great cave where Gorgorath lived. The entrance was guarded by a huge boulder, which Elara knew she could never move on her own.”
Ernest frowned, worried about the princess. “What did she do?”
