“I can’t,” she said, collapsing against him, crying so hard her entire body shook with the effort. Reid wrapped his arms around her while the others tried not to intrude. When her tears eased just the slightest bit, he stood and pulled her up, keeping her against his chest. At that moment, they carried Jed over and laid him in the wagon beside Nora. Seeing them laid out together, Reid felt his own tears stream down his face as he held onto Lady Elise as a lifeline. “They’re ready to go,” he said with a rough voice.
Pulling back from him, she leaned over each of the bodies and kissed the couple’s foreheads in turn. “Goodbye,” she whispered. “Thank you for loving me and taking care of me.” She would not let them go, and Reid slowly pulled her hand away from where she clutched onto Nora’s. After breaking contact, she followed him in a stupor, and he lifted her onto Midnight’s back. Mounting in front of her, he pulled her arms around him for support. As they rode away, she fell against his back in sobs once again.
CHAPTER8
Elise wasn’t sure where she was when she woke up, she only knew she felt numb. Her head throbbed as she sat up and looked around. Realizing her clothes were wet, she choked up as it all came flooding back to her. They were gone. A sob rose in her throat before she could even finish the thought, and at the same moment, the door opened.
“Don’t fret my lady, I’ve brought you some dry clothes.” The maid who had entered the room approached the bed looking apprehensive due to Elise’s broken-down state. She laid out a night rail, a dressing gown, and clean underclothes at the end of the bed, taking a step back before asking if she was alright.
“Where am I?” Elise asked, calming herself while wiping away her tears. There was no bringing Nora and Jed back, so she would save her tears for latter once she knew what was going on.
“You’re at Cliff House, my lady. Lord Weston brought you here.” With the maids prompting, Elise recalled Weston placing her onto his horse and carrying her into a house. The memory was hazy, likely due to a combination of the shock over losing her friends as well as the cold and wet that still permeated her body. “Come,” the maid said, “I’ll help you out of your wet things, we don’t want you getting sick.”
Elise stood, trying to make sense of the new reality she found herself in. How could they just be gone? She should have stopped the couple from going into the village that morning. She knew the roads were slick after the first rain. The numb feeling continued, and the maid moved her around as if she were a marionette, stripping off her wet clothes and pulling the dry ones over her head. Elise began shaking, most likely from shock more than the lingering cold, but none the less, she was more than happy to crawl under the covers when the maid pulled them back.
“You just rest now. I’ll bring up some tea and we’ll get you warmed up before you know it.” Alone once again, Elise closed her eyes trying to block out the reality of the situation. Unbidden, tears began to slowly leak out of the corners of her eyes, sliding down her temples, and tickling her ears as they made their descent down the contours of her face. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the maid returned with a tea tray. While the tea was warming and revived her just a tiny bit, it did not ease her throbbing head. She supposed the stress of the day combined with a good drenching was liable to give one a headache.
Elise clutched her teacup against her chest and leaned back to rest against the headboard. When a knock came at the door, she assumed it was the maid again and called for her to come in, not opening her eyes. She was startled when the voice of the earl was the sound the greeted her.
“Are you well, my lady?” Weston inquired gently. Elise snapped open her eyes and looked at him standing at the foot of the bed. He gazed at her, eyes full of concern.
“I can’t believe they’re gone,” Elise whispered, her voice sounding dead in her ears.
“It’s a great loss . . . I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice breaking. Weston’s grief reignited her own and a sob welled up in her chest before she could stop it. He rushed around the bed, closing the distance between them. Plucking the teacup from her hand and wrapping her in his arms, he whispered, “just let go.”
Elise could not have stopped the wave of emotion and tears even if she had wanted to. Clinging to his back, she buried her head against his chest, the sobs wrenching from her body. It could have been either two or twenty minutes before they began to ebb, and she returned to her body. Elise realized that Weston was cradling her head and gently stroking her hair in a comforting manner as he rocked her back and forth, his cheek resting on her head. While he could not make the situation better, she did feel safe within his embrace. It was highly improper for him to be holding her in such a manner as she was an unmarried woman, but given the circumstances, it might be forgiven, and she was reluctant to move away from the comfort he was providing.
“I’m sorry,” she said, finally moving away from him with a sniff. “I didn’t mean to fall apart like that again.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said as he brushed his finger across her cheek, wiping away one of the tears that persisted in falling.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said quietly. “I just feel numb.”
“Everything is being handled, you don’t need to worry about anything,” Weston said, running his hands up and down her arms in a way that was incredibly soothing. “I’ll make sure they are taken care of and treated gently,” he reassured her. “You can stay here until we find someone new to help out around the dower house.”
“I can’t stay here, I need to take care of the animals and tend the garden.”
“I understand how you feel, but you can’t stay there by yourself,” Weston said patiently. “It’s not safe. I’ve already sent a maid to gather some of your personal items and clothing, and one of our grooms to take care of the animals and daily tasks until you find help.”
Elise did not like being managed, but seeing as it was so hard to focus on anything for the moment, it was oddly reassuring knowing she would not need to worry about the house and could lose herself in her grief for a while if necessary. “I can’t even think about hiring anyone new right now,” she said with a shudder. “It’s too hard, and I don’t trust myself to make a good decision.”
“You don’t need to do anything right away, and I’ll be happy to help you if that is something you would like when the time comes.” She looked down, the kindness in his eyes about to be her undoing. Weariness crashed over her, and she lifted a hand to her aching temple.
“Are you alright?” he asked, a touch of concern to his tone. “I hope you are not feeling too many ill effects from the rain. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I think the day is catching up with me is all,” Elise said. “It still doesn’t seem real. I want to rest, but I know it will hurt too much when I wake up and remember again.” The tears started again by the time she finished. She just wanted to close her eyes and make it all stop.
“I really am so very sorry. I cared greatly for them. They were wonderful people who treated me well before I left home. I was so happy to see them again these last few weeks.” They sat together for a moment, neither saying anything, lost in their own thoughts. Elise appreciated the silence, but more than anything, she cherished the comfort of his presence and not feeling so utterly alone now that the couple had left her.
“Why don’t you get some sleep,” the earl finally said. “I’ll have a dinner tray sent up so you don’t need to worry about preparing yourself for dinner, and your clothing should arrive soon.”
“Thank you,” Elise said. He gave her arms one final squeeze before letting go and then ever so gently tucked her in once she had laid down. When he left her at last, she felt both relief that she did not have to try and hold herself together any longer, and bereft at his absence.
* * *
Elise wasn’t sure how long she had been asleep when she awoke to the sound of agitated voices muffled by the bedroom wall. It was hard to make out what was being said as the volume was purposely being kept low, but that only highlighted the edge to the tone of the conversation. Sitting up, she caught bits of what was being said as the speakers occasionally raised their voices.
“. . . cannot stay here. It is highly improper . . . will think?” a female voice whispered forcefully. Elise was sure the woman was speaking about her, and she tried to hear more of the exchange.
