Author’s Note: A short and sweet chapter of Ernest and Ella’s story, when Ernest finally starts opening up and has the opportunity to comfort his new wife during an unfortunate tragedy.
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The remainder of the races turned out to be extraordinarily tense with Ernest’s sour turn of his mood. Even when the Edgewater steed won first place and Ella stood up enthusiastically to applaud her family’s equine champion, Ernest did little but acknowledge the victory with a half-smile and a nod when Ella glanced down at him. The man who had started their afternoon outing so pleasantly was gone, his timid smile from before now hidden beneath the layers of furrowed brows and angst.
Ella could not help but to study him every few minutes on the carriage ride back to Ledford Park, trying to determine where the afternoon had gone awry and what gloomy thoughts were churning about beneath those tousled flaxen locks. His gaze never left the rolling countryside passing by, his mouth set in a tight line, completely oblivious to his young wife’s worrisome glances. As the carriage neared Ledford Park, Ella summoned the courage to speak, unwilling to lose this fleeting opportunity to have him alone and force him to respond to her questions.
“Ernest?” She began in a gentle voice. He did not seem to hear her. She cleared her throat and tried again, her voice louder and firm this time. “Ernest!?” He startled from his reverie, his eyes flicking back to find her observing him closely. “Ernest, I wish you would please tell me what is wrong? I thought we were having a pleasant time …”
Ernest maintained her gaze for a moment, then shook his head in frustration and turned away towards the window again. “Those people …” he growled under his breath.
“Those people?” Ella questioned, her brow knitting in contemplation as she recalled the conversations from earlier that day. “You mean the Duke and your cousin? I do not understand, they seemed extremely agreeable-“
“That is because you do not know them as I do!” Ernest barked as he turned back to glare at her. “They cannot be trusted, Ella!”
Ella’s jaw dropped open as she processed her husband’s outburst slowly. She could not comprehend how Ernest could not be fond of the boisterous and friendly Felicity, and even the Duke had done nothing disagreeable in their brief interaction. “But … She is your cousin. Are you not amenable to your own kin?”
Ernest let out a slow exhale, resting his hands on his legs to calm himself. He finally glanced up to meet Ella’s gaze, his eyes filled with remorse and concern. “She may be family through distant relations, but I had never met her until just less than a year ago. Shortly after she married the Duke.”
“Well then you should get to know her better, and we should be thankful to the Duke for reuniting you with your long-lost cousin, should we not?” Ella inquired innocently, reaching a hand instinctively out to clasp Ernest’s upon his leg.
He stared down at her hand upon his and Ella worried that he would again brush her off like he had earlier. Instead he placed his other on top of hers, cradling her delicate hand between his two larger ones warmly. He traced his thumb along hers, softly and carefully as he watched the slight movement. Finally he raised his eyes to meet hers, a wistful smile on his lips before they parted to speak. “Sweet Ella … I had hoped the same thing. But alas I have learned yet again that I am all alone in this world, with no true family to speak of.” He paused, his heartfelt stare imploring her to listen to his next words. “Please be careful Ella … I do not wish to see you disappointed as I was. As I said before, they cannot be trusted.”
Ella nodded slightly but dared not speak for fear of frightening away this gentle, compassionate Ernest. Her hand tingled where her skin came into contact with his, and it suddenly dawned on her that this was one of the very few times he had ever touched her willingly. She laced her fingers through his and gave him a soft smile, which he kindly returned, and they sat together in peaceful silence for the remainder of the ride home. Her mind was swirling with questions, but for today this small gesture of companionship was enough.
As the carriage circled the rotunda of Ledford Park, Ella caught a glimpse of Briar rushing down the front steps to meet the carriage, waving a letter in her hand frantically. Immediately, her stomach sank with dread … for she knew in her heart what news was to come. The carriage had scarcely stopped before she had opened the door and started to jump to the ground, uncaring of proper decorum if what she feared was true.
“My Lady, my Lady!” Briar called as she scurried to meet her at the foot of the stairs. “It is your father! He has taken with a fever and … the doctor thinks it shall not be long.”
Ella’s heart thundered in her chest and tears pricked her eyes as she scoured over the contents of the letter. It was only after she finished reading it that she noticed Ernest standing behind her reading over her shoulder, his hand cupped around her shoulder protectively. She glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall at any second. “I … I …” her voice was shaky as she struggled to get the words out.
“You must go to him.” Ernest replied simply, a look of understanding upon his face as he rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. She nodded in agreement, allowing a few tears to tumble down her cheeks. He stroked his thumb along her cheek to swipe them away, his eyes never leaving hers. “Briar, go fetch Lady Ella’s things. Luke, ready the horses to ride again for Edgewater. We will leave at once!”
~~~
The next few days passed by in a blur, Ella scarcely leaving her father’s bedside upon their arrival at Edgewater. Despite her greatest efforts and ambitions, the doctor confirmed her dreaded suspicions that there was nothing anyone could do now but wait. So wait she did, by his side, for nearly three straight days until he passed early in the morning on chilly day in November.
Ella stood entranced in front of the window in her former chambers, watching as the wind rustled the trees upon the lawn before her. The combination of grief and exhaustion had dulled her senses, for she did not even hear the footsteps behind her as Ernest approached. “Ella? Ella, you need to get some rest.” She startled when he placed his fingertips lightly on her forearm to gently gain her attention, dropping her gaze to observe his touch curiously. Finally she looked away again to the outdoors, shaking her head and allowing the tears she had been holding inside to spill down her cheeks.
“I will rest when it is done. As Lady of Edgewater and his only child, I must ensure that my father’s character is honored during the services. I cannot trust Henrietta to do him justice.” Her voice was shaky, but she held her head high as she spoke.
“Perhaps …” Ernest slipped in front of her, obstructing her view of the window to attract her focus, slipping his other hand upon her arm to coax her to look at him. “Perhaps I can be of service. Would you trust me to help plan the services?”
“I .. I … “ Ella’s eyes searched within his, finding kindness and concern behind his sapphire irises. And then she knew … she could trust him. “I would. I would, thank you. At least until I have rested properly.”
Ernest let out an exhale of relief, rubbing her upper arms gently as he cocked his head to view her better. “Good, good …” He paused, his brows furrowed with a look of worry before he opened his mouth again to speak with determination. “I will have to go to London after the services on business … I was hoping you might accompany this time. I think it would be good for you to get away for some time.”
If Ella had not been so exhausted already she would have likely questioned her husband’s motives for requesting her company, however on this day she did not have the energy to ponder his intentions. Some time away, an escape to the city … that all sounded wonderful to her. “Yes, I would very much like to accompany you this time.”
Ernest smiled, a genuine wide smile that reached all the way to the corners of his eyes. “Wonderful.” He turned around and closed the drapes on the window behind him, casting a dark shadow across the room before moving on to the next window. “But for now, you must rest.” He came back to her side when he was finished, ushering her gently to the bed and encouraging her to sit. She looked up at him in a stupor, whether caused by awe or fatigue she could not tell, then gave him a soft smile before he left her alone to lie down.
As she lay down upon her old bed and closed her eyes, Ella felt an odd sense closure and contentment. There was a sadness resonating in the corners of her mind of course, but a sense of complacency dulled the sharp edges of her sorrow. She would forever be thankful to have sat with her father in his last days, to provide comfort to him as he prepared to leave this world. Now that he had gone, although she missed him terribly, she felt sure that he was in a peaceful place watching down on her. And right now he was most likely smiling proudly, having just witnessed the warm interaction between his only daughter and the man he had been so proud to call his son-in-law.
To be continued …