And I didn’t have a choice.
Battle took hold of my elbow, he grabbed Chassie on the way, and Prue scurried after us.
Battle closed the door on Tempie’s first sob.
My heart shattered.
He turned from the door and Chassie fell into his arms.
Her sobs were quiet.
He stroked her hair.
We stood just outside the door for a bit, hearing the muted humming burr of whatever Hamish was saying, the feminine weeping coming from Tempie, but eventually, Prue herded us to the smoking room.
When we got there, Battle took Chassie to the sofa, and they sat in it with his arms still holding her close.
“I’ll just tell Cook dinner might be delayed,” Prue whispered, and she took off.
I was so agitated, worried about Chassie, about Tempie, I couldn’t sit.
So I went to the windows, stared at Chassie’s beautiful garden and listened to a woman I loved weeping.
“I-I knew she’d be m-mad,” Chassie eventually wept into Battle’s chest. “B-b-but Ravenna told her she was going to l-lose him. And sh-she’s still here. Sh-she d-didn’t go to London. Even with you here. I h-had t-t-to do something.”
“You did right, love,” Battle purred. “Just right. It’s going to be fine.”
I turned my head their way.
Battle’s gaze was on me.
The expression on his face was harsh and hopeful, an odd combination, but pure beauty.
Prue returned.
“Cook’s good,” she announced, going directly to Chassie and taking control. “Let’s get you up. See to your face.”
Chassie rose, sniffled and wiped her cheeks. “Did you go by the parlor? Is she still crying?”
“I just heard Hamish when I walked by,” Prue told her, leading her toward the door. I saw her big smile. “That was a totally crazy idea. I wished I had it.”
Chassie looked at her, startled.
Then she giggled a little bit as they disappeared in the hall.
I turned to Battle. “Are you okay?”
He lifted one long finger then stood from the couch.
He stared at the door his sisters walked through for a beat, two, three…five, and then he went to it and closed it.
After that, he came to me.
“Did you hear whatever Chelsea said?”
Oh boy.
“Yes,” I admitted.
