Elise woke with a start the next morning, for the sun was shining through the curtains, proving that she’d slept later than she’d intended yet again.
She scrambled out of bed andhad just changed into the other new dress that Grannie had bought for her, a lovely deep blue velvet, when the door to her chamber opened.
“I thought you might be up.” Like the day before, Grannie entered, Samson trailingbehind her with a silver tray. He set it down on the dressing table, and offered her a consolatory wink as he took his leave.
“Grannie, really, why did you let me stayasleepso long? I need to get to the jail to see Chauncey—”
“I’m afraid he’s gone,” Grannie returned.
Elise, fearing the worst, clutched her chest and said, “What do you mean?” The blood rushed out of her face.“Did he…escape?” She rather hoped that wasn’t the case.
The older woman chuckled. “Heavens, no. My, what a vivid imagination you have, Elise.” She waved her hand toward the tray and took a seat in the same chair by the fireplace that she’d occupied the night before. “I’ll explain while you eat.”
Giving Elise no choice but to comply, she took off the silver lid and was greeted to the steaming aroma of oatmeal, buttered toasted bread, and ham. With many more meals like this, she might have to start lacing her corset a bit tighter.
As she sat down and began to devour the tempting fare, Grannie said, “Several men took the sheriff’s wagon to meet the train in the nearby village this morning including Mr. Grimm, Spadely, the bounty hunters, and your Mr. Cade.”
Elise couldn’t stop her cheeks from warming at any mention of Chauncey, although she frowned slightly. “Surely they haven’t already set up a trial?”
“No.” Grannie agreed. “However, the judge agreed to hearMr. Grimm’sdefensefirst thing this morning. As you know, murder is a serious offense, no matter where you call home.”
Elise wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. “I wish you would have let me know so that I could have gone.”
“And done what? Fret the entire time?” The older lady shook her head. “It’s better that you wait here with me. I’ll make sure to keep you plenty busy.”
While worry was already her constant companion of late, Elise couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure that you do.”
Her hostessgot toher feet. “Make sure you eat every bite of that. I’ve never had any of my guests complain that I sent them away hungry, so I won’t hear it from you.” She walked to the door. “I’ll be in the kitchens when you’re done.”
Elise sighed and grabbed her fork.
***
Later that afternoon, as the sun was starting to set, Elise stared outside and wondered what was happening in the nearby town.
Of course, Grannie had remained true to her word, keeping her occupied most of the day with various errands, including paying a visit to the bank and the mercantile. With Grannie’s carriage laden down with the requested supplies, Elise had paused before the wishing well and stared down into the dark expanse, wondering if the legend of how Charming was founded truly was how Grannie had described it, or if she had embellished a few of the facts to make it sound like a fairytale.
Either way, Elise realized that no matter what happened with Chauncey, she couldn’t leave this place. It had been foolish to think that she ever could, for Charming was herhome.And as silly as it sounded, she wanted to believe that fairytales were real.
Elise watched as a large snowflake passed in front of her line of vision. She reached out and traced its pathon the glassfrom thesky to the ground, where other white flakesquickly followed. It appeared that another winter storm was approaching. All day the air had felt cold and blustery, and she had noticed the threat of gray clouds on the horizon.She smiled, for it reminded her of the night she’d first met Chauncey, dressed as he was in that terrifying bearskin coat—
Her breath suddenly caught in her throat as she peered out into the falling dusk.She gripped the windowsill, for there was a dark, hulking shape in the midst of the swirling snowstorm. Elise heard someone behind her gasp upon seeing the figure, but tears stung her eyes, for she knew that stride.
She ran toward the front door of the inn and threw it open, not even bothering to shut it behind her, or even don a cloak as she flew across the remaining expanse that brought her ever closer to the man she loved.
Tears stung her eyes from the cold, but also from the exhilaration of being reunited. The bear’s arms opened and she launched herself into Chauncey’s waitingembrace.Neither one of them spoke, just held tightly to the other, grateful for this moment.
“Let’s get you inside before you freeze to death.”
Elise closed her eyestemporarilyat the sound of that low, soothing baritone, but she walked alongsidehim until they were inside of the warm inn. Grannie was standing therewith her hands on her hipsandchidedgently, “What were you thinking to leave the door standing wide open, Elise? I’m not trying to heat the outside.”
She turned her attention to Chauncey and her soft expression belied any irritation. “Mr. Cade. How lovely to see you on the outside of that dreadful cell.”
He reached out and grasped her hand in both of his. “I owe you a debt I can hardly repay, Ms. Charming.”
“Oh, I think I know exactly what you can do, and you have my every blessing.” She glanced at Elise, whose face suddenly grew warm, but then she shifted her gaze to the other two men who had followed Chauncey inside, and who Elise had failed to see until then. “Ah, Mr. Grimm and LordArandine. Shall we retire to my salon? I assume that you have returned with good news to impart.”
As Chauncey kept his arm wrapped around Elise, they followed the petite woman into her quarters where she took a seat by the fire. The attorney followed suit, although Spadely chose to remain standing,and so didElise and Chauncey.However, the instant Beau saw his master, he loped over with a decidedly welcoming bark.
