Christopher left to bring the wagon that was kept in the stables of the hunting lodge as close to the front door as was physically allowed, thankful that there were still horses to hook up to it even after all the commotion of the evening.
Once Graham was loaded in the back of the wagon, through no small effort, Alaina settled in next to Christopher, worried for their friend, but reassured by the strong steady breathing she could hear and the makeshift bandage they had fashioned out of handkerchiefs and strips of linen from one of the bedroom’s sheets to slow the bleeding.
Christopher was quiet for most of the drive back to the manor house, darkness still shrouding the estate as they wound around the winding path. His worries for his friend, his wife, and his adoptive Ashford and Norwich families were at the forefront of his mind. Christopher also wrestled with his grief. His cousin may have been at the heart of what happened, but they had grown up together, and reconnected as adults. It was tough to reconcile the Charles who had kidnapped his wife with the one he thought he knew. He had always seen ugliness in people like Percy, overt and in the open,but how was he to protect his loved ones from the people who were like his cousin, Charles?
A quiet knock sounded on the door, and Graham called out, “Come in.” He attempted to sit up more in bed and was perturbed when a twinge of pain kept him from doing so.
Graham watched as Alaina and Christopher entered his room, his friend bearing a tray with afternoon tea. They had insisted he take up residence at Waverley until he was completely healed, but after a week, he was already wishing to be home.
“Graham, we thought you might like some refreshments,” Alaina said softly.
“Yes, thank you, Alaina,” Graham responded, and he huffed in consternation as she went about fluffing pillows and fussing over him before she took the tray from Christopher and placed it in front of him.
“Still wishing to be home? You have not even rested a week here. Surely our company is not so terrible?” Christopher questioned.
“I just prefer to be home, ‘tis all,” Graham answered. “At least you both have somehow convinced my mother to restrain herself from making a visit. I could not fathom what it would be like to deal with her tending and yours.”
A brief look passed between Christopher and Alaina, but before Graham could inquire, Christopher spoke. “Well, I for one am happy that the doctor says you should make a full recovery.”
Graham grunted and felt unnecessarily constrained in bed. It was infuriating!
“I told Christopher that we cannot keep you here,” Alaina said. “And that when the doctor gives the ok to let you travel, we shall see you safely home.”
“I can see myself home,” Graham responded, his tone cantankerous.
“Nonsense, it will be some time before I let anyone travel completely alone,” Christopher challenged.
The statement hung in the air as the three of them relived the events of a week ago. Graham could not help but ask, “How is Nicholas doing?”
“Well,” Christopher replied, “He is up and about a bit, and is being just about as ornery as you when he is asked to rest.”
“I suppose you have informed the authorities?” Graham continued on his line of questioning. After a week, he still had no idea how things were resolved. According to Alaina and Christopher, no news was so important as to threaten his recovery.
“Ah, yes, funny you should mention that,” Christopher started, but then paused as Alaina shot him a glare. “Darling, I cannot keep the sheriff from him forever.”
“Will you both stop treating me like an invalid and just tell me what is happening?” Graham implored.
Alaina waved her hand in Graham’s direction. “Go ahead and tell him if you must.”
“Well, it took a few days for us to sort through everything. Charles and Felton wrought so much destruction that the sheriff has been visiting every day with more questions, more information. We have been delaying his speaking to you to allow you to recover,” Christopher said.
“Why the worry?” Graham asked.
“I am not worried about what the sheriff will do. He knows you only shot Felton in an attempt to save him from shooting anyone, including yourself, and that you suffered grave harm in the process. But… the delay in his official report has set tongues wagging.”
At this point, Alaina interjected, “There really is noneedfor you to speak to the sheriff, Graham. He has admitted such, especially with Christopher and me as witnesses. But with everyone shouting ‘murder’, the sheriff feels a certain pressure to formally interview you. You know, to put everything to rest, finally.”
Graham let out a groan, and fell back into the pillows. “What a mess.”
“Indeed,” Christopher agreed. “You know, I was telling Alaina that our early married life has not gone at all to plan. I am sorry you have been dragged into our mess.”
“What are friends for, if not to help when there is need?” Graham asked, rhetorically. “Well to say the world’s plan, at least at this particular moment, is shite would be quite an understatement in my opinion.”
Alaina and Christopher released a breath they did not know that they were holding and chuckled ever so slightly. They certainly could agree on that sentiment.
A sound of a carriage coming down the pebbled drive of Waverley caused the three friends to shift their attention. Not long after, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the halls, and they all heard a familiar voice.
“I asked to see my son! The duke, where is he?” Eleanor’s concern was palpable even from a distance.
