Author’s Note: Ernest and Ella enjoy their visit in London and are excited to make plans together. But does Ernest have more secrets than Ella originally realized?
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After surviving a trying week at Edgewater and the emotional funeral services for her father Earl Vincent, Ella welcomed the opportunity to escape her painful reality in London for a while. The respite was probably necessary for everyone’s safety as well, for if Ella heard another snide remark or caught another scowl from her estranged stepmother she was unsure it would not result in some form of physical harm towards the older woman. How her father’s grieving widow could speak of nothing besides the fate of Edgewater and not her late husband felt like a constant knife twisting in Ella’s broken heart. While she knew she would have to address the future of her stepmother and stepbrother sooner or later, that was a pain she was not willing to address just yet.
Ella had forgotten how much she loved London, the excitement of the bustling streets and constant activity. It had been so many years since she had been to visit for more than a quick day trip, since before her father had taken ill and forced to stay close to Edgewater … this was truly her first real trip to the grand city as a grown woman. A grown woman with a husband, who had been keen to keep her occupied during their stay.
Ernest had never been one to enjoy social engagements and obligations, yet Ella could see the young man was venturing outside his boundaries to keep her entertained. Although he had been quite busy with business during the day, he had made it home twice in the past five days between engagements to take luncheon with his wife. One evening he had surprised her by arriving home particularly early and escorted Ella on a stroll through the streets to a nearby park before dinner. Ella could sense a change in him, between the soft half-smiles and quiet laughter … glimpses into his soul that she knew he kept locked away from the world. And she liked what she saw.
“How was business today, Ernest?” Ella inquired as the two settled into their seats for dinner.
Ernest shot her a quizzical look, arching his brow while he smoothed the linen napkin across his lap. “It was satisfactory … but since when do you care about the details of my business?”
Ella blushed and dropped her eyes shyly, shrugging her shoulders slightly before looking up to meet his gaze again. “I just like to hear about what you do every day. Is that so wrong?”
Ernest emitted a low chuckle from his throat, a smirk spread across his lips. “No, not wrong, I was just surprised.” He cleared his throat and spread a serious expression across his face before continuing. “Today was a trying day, I spent most of the afternoon with my lawyer. After our discussions I am a bit weary, although optimistic.”
Ella nodded, but her face knitted with confusion. “What matters do you have to be optimistic about?” She leaned forward against the table, studying him closely.
“The matter of Ledford Park and the ances-“ Ernest began speaking before he was able to fully process the question, only to stop abruptly mid-sentence. “Erm, apologies … these are not matters to worry you with.” Ernest reached for his goblet and took a shaky sip of his wine, aware of his wife’s eyes following him. He swallowed slowly, then straightened in his chair and turned his attention to Ella. “But there is a matter I wish to speak to you about … how would you feel about hosting a dinner party here next week?”
Ella’s eyes widened and she clapped her hands three times excitedly. “Oh, really Ernest? I would love that!” Her mind started to wander towards party preparations, choosing the menu and the table linens and the place cards … until the most obvious obstacle flitted across her mind. She glanced over to Ernest, who was watching her intently. “But, I thought you said you hated hosting dinner parties?”
Ernest’s cheeks flushed and he looked away for a moment, his mouth agape as he searched his vocabulary for a response. “I …I do …“ he paused, then met her stare again, “I mean, I did … but now that I have you …” he gestured towards her with a nod of his head, “now that I have someone to host with me, it does not seem as mundane as it used to.”
She could not fight the wide grin that spread across her face. “Thank you, Ernest. I hope that I do not disappoint you.”
Ernest’s own face lit up in a soft smile, his eyes dancing with the reflection of the candelight. “I doubt very much that is even possible, Ella.”
~~~
Ella stared into the reflection in the mirror before her, tilting her head to the side as she ran the bristles of her hairbrush through her dark locks. She forced her face into her best attempt at a serious expression, but it seemed to naturally return to it’s euphoric state as she let her mind begin to wander again. She could not deny it … she was becoming more and more besotted with her husband every day. And from the way he had spoken with her this evening, she was starting to believe he felt the same way.
She stood from her dressing table, wrapping her shawl around her shoulders to take away the sting of the late November cold that infiltrated her private chambers in the London house. She flipped through the few books she had brought along from Ledford Park, trying to decide which one to start first. Normally she would be in bed at this hour, however tonight her body was thrumming with nervous excitement and her mind was replaying the details of dinner, making it impossible for her to settle into sleep. After selecting a book from the stack, Ella laid out on the chaise lounge near the window with a cozy blanket to settle in with her story. Just as she flipped open the first page, she heard soft whispers of voices from just outside her window on the street below. Curious, she rose to her knees and pressed her face to the glass, peering down on the frames of two men at the front entry below. The London butler had positioned himself in the doorway, handing over a large basket to-
“Ernest!” Ella whispered in awe against the cold glass pane. Her heart started beating faster as she watched the scene unfold quickly before her eyes. Ernest gave a curt statement to the butler and, before Ella had even realized what was occurring, he turned and walked away with the heavy basket into the dark streets of London.
Ella’s eyes followed him until his shadowy figure faded into the night before she finally sat back against the cushions, stunned. Her mind was hazy, overwhelmed by the confusion and emotions that had promptly crept inside. Where was Ernest going so late at night? What was in the basket? And who was he going to see?
To be continued …