Page 36 of The Lovers
Molly and Peter came to the church but then stood well off to the side, where Edward wouldn’t see them. Peter kept a protective arm around Molly’s shoulder as she cried quietly into a handkerchief. They were gone by the time the service ended, and the first clumps of dirt made contact with the coffin lid, thudding against the wood with sickening finality. Elise stood silently and watched as the gravediggers filled in the grave. Edward watched as well, his head bowed, his arms at his sides. He seemed defeated and indifferent to his surroundings, but in a few days, normal life would begin again. For all of them.
TWENTY-THREE
James had no wish to return to the house after the funeral. Edward had invited some of the mourners back for refreshments, but neither James nor Molly would be welcome even if they wished to attend. Edward hadn’t so much as glanced at his daughter during the funeral; perhaps he hadn’t even recognized her, having not seen her in years. Molly was better off having no ties to this cold, manipulative man. Her life wasn’t easy by any means, but it was hers to live as she saw fit, and she wasn’t beholden to their father in any way. In an odd way, she was free.
As the mourners began to disperse, James left the graveyard and walked to Blackfriars. Molly could hardly tell any of her friends and neighbors that she’d just buried her infant son in someone else’s coffin, so the wake for Harry was just for the family. Molly had prepared a mutton stew and baked rhubarb pie for dessert, which was a real treat. The sweet stuck in James’s throat, but he did it justice anyway so as not to offend Molly. She’d likely been up all night preparing and cleaning the house. She was the type of woman who threw herself into domestic tasks to distract her mind from her suffering. Molly had always been practical and accepting of life’s tragedies, but this was her little boy, and the second child she’d lost in as many years. James knew her well enough to note the rigid set of her shoulders and the barely contained storm of emotion that raged behind her dark-blue eyes.
“Molly, will you be all right?” James asked once Peter and the girls stepped out of the room. Peter suggested a walk by the river to give his wife a bit of privacy and quiet, should she wish torest, but Molly threw herself into clearing up, as James knew she would.
“Of course, I will,” Molly retorted forcefully. “The question is whether ye will be.”
“I’ll grieve for Harry, of course, but I’ll manage,” James replied, confused by his sister’s vehement response.
“’Tis not ’Arry’s passing I’m referring to.”
“Then what?”
“Ye care for her. I can tell. I saw ye watching her during the burial. She didn’t spare ye a glance, but ye were gazing at her the whole time, desperate for even a tiny spec of acknowledgement. Like a dog,” Molly spat out.
“Don’t be a fool, Molly,” James retorted. Molly was feeling emotional, and he wouldn’t do anything to upset her further, but she was talking nonsense and taking out her grief on him.
“It’s ye who’s the fool, brother,” Molly countered, her eyes blazing with anger. She slammed a washed pewter jug onto the table as if it’d offended her somehow and began to dry the rest of the crockery, her movements jerky and unnaturally forceful.
“Molly, what’s gotten into you? Elise just did something kind and selfless for a woman she’d never met and a child she’d never heard of. Why can’t you show a little charity of spirit toward her?”
Molly shook her head as she glared at James, hands splayed on the table for support. “Ye just don’t see it, do ye? It’s not her I’m angry with. What she’s done for ’Arry is nothing short of miraculous, and I will be grateful to her for as long as I live, but I’ve just lost someone I love and I don’t want to lose anyone else. She wouldn’t have done what she’s done unless she cared for ye. Why would she risk her husband’s wrath otherwise? And now Iknow that ye care for her as well. Do ye not see where this might lead, James?”
“Molly, you know our father. He’s no fool. He’ll send me away as soon as Elise gets with child. I would have served my purpose, and he’ll want me out of the way until my services are required once again.”
“Well, I hope he does. Ye are right, James, he’s no fool, nor is he a man who values the lives of others. Lord Asher is a ruthless, ambitious man, and he will not allow anyone to stand in the way of his plans. Go away, James. Find a life for yerself away from Asher Hall. I implore ye. I’ve no wish to see ye hurt.”
James got to his feet and took his sister in his arms. Molly stiffened at first but then gave in to her need for comfort. She rested her head on James’s shoulder as he held her close. “Molly, you are the only person in this world who loves me, and I value your loyalty and devotion above all, but I must do as I see fit.”
“Ye should have never agreed to this scheme,” Molly persisted. The fury had gone out of her, and now her voice sounded thin and frightened.
“You are right, I shouldn’t have. But I did, and now I must deal with the consequences.”
Molly pulled away from James and looked up at him, her eyes clouded with worry. “I know ye, James. Ye’re too mule-headed to heed my advice, but mark my words: This won’t end well for ye.”
“Molly, I’ve made a deal with our father. Once Elise is delivered of a son, he will give me an agreed-upon sum of money and release me from his service. I have some education and skill with a sword. There’s a place in this world for men like me. I will take my payment and go. At least I won’t be walking away empty-handed after all these years of service.”
“No, ye won’t be, but ye’ll be leaving behind a son and his mother,” Molly persisted, refusing to let the subject drop. James reached for his cloak and hat. He’d heard enough, and he needed to leave before he lashed out at his sister and told her to mind her own affairs and leave him to deal with his. Molly meant well, he knew that, but she’d hit a nerve, which was exactly what she’d been hoping to do. She always knew just how to rile him up.
“They will not be my responsibility,” James barked. He yanked open the door and strode out, slamming the door behind him for emphasis.
Molly shook her head in dismay, amazed by her brother’s pigheadedness. “You just keep telling yourself that, brother,” she called after James, but he didn’t hear her.
TWENTY-FOUR
Elise woke with a start, suddenly aware that someone was in the room. She’d taken to going upstairs after the midday meal to rest for a while. She wasn’t sure why she was so tired these days, but the household ran smoothly, so there wasn’t much for her to do during the afternoons anyway. She felt refreshed after an hour’s nap and usually went downstairs to read or work on some mending, which never seemed to end. Edward always managed to snag his hose or tear a bit of lace on his collars. Elise diligently applied herself to fixing every garment, used to the economies of her upbringing.
Elise rubbed her eyes and sat up. She’d drawn the bed hangings to keep the bright light out and now pulled them aside to find her husband in her bedchamber. Elise sucked in her breath when she realized who was with him. Dr. Fisk treated Lady Matilda while she was ill, so Elise knew him well. He was considered to be one of the best physicians in London and was frequently consulted by members of the court for various complaints. Dr. Fisk had even attended on the king himself, but although he coveted the title of Court Physician, he had yet to achieve it. Edward said that His Majesty desired a younger doctor, one who was well versed in all the new advances in medicine and who didn’t look as dour as Bernard Fisk tended to, even when smiling.
Dr. Fisk was a slight man with rheumy eyes and stooped posture, his physical shortcomings exacerbated by the unnatural blackness of his periwig and his elaborate attire, which nearly swallowed him up. Elise supposed that he was only in his fifties,but he appeared to be much older, perhaps because despite the rose water that he used in great quantities, he always smelled of illness and death.
“Is something wrong?” Elise asked, making an effort to sound calm. Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she stared from one man to the other. Edward had been preoccupied with his mother’s illness, but now that she was gone, there was nothing to stop him from turning his attention to the business at hand.
“Dr. Fisk is here to examine you, Elise. Perhaps he can determine the cause of your infertility,” Edward replied gruffly.
