Page 99 of The Rogue's Runaway Bride
“Oh, dear,” she murmured. “I have to return to New York.”
“I am so sorry, my dear,” Mrs. Johnstone said kindly. “I understand how much yer grandmother means to ye.”
He wrapped his arm around her. Drawing her near. Comforting her. “Belle, tell me what’s wrong.”
She gazed up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “My brother sent a message from New York.” Belle choked back tears. “He wanted me to know our grandmother has taken ill. Her physicians are hopeful that she will recover, but she faces a difficult road ahead. She needs me now.” Belle swiped away a tear and squared her shoulders. “I need to be there with her. To comfort her. To help her find the strength to go on.” She met his gaze with a look of anguish. “I must go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Atorrent ofemotions swept over Belle. This evening with Jon and his family had been a time of happiness, a time of looking to her future—a future she’d wanted with all her heart to spend with Jon. But now, the terse words on a single scrap of paper had upended everything.
At the news, Jon had taken her hands in his, comforting her with his strength. Sensing her distress, Carrie rushed to Belle, wrapped her arms around her, and gave her a sweet hug, while the others offered words of reassurance. Belle could only pray that Grandmama would have faith that Belle would be there as soon as the ship could carry her across the Atlantic.
As they calmly discussed Belle’s intention to return home on the first available voyage to New York, a hush fell over the room. The joy that had filled the air not long before had evaporated, replaced with a sense of inevitability. Soon, Belle would be an ocean away. At the moment, it felt as if she was planning to leave them all behind. Forever.
Jon had continued to comfort her in the face of the distressing news, though his demeanor had shifted. A muscle clenched and unclenched in his jaw, even as he held her hand so tenderly. Belle knew that expression. He was bracing himself for a loss. She’d seen that look before—in Manhattan, before he’d left her behind.
This time, it was her turn to leave.
The thought plowed into her like a blow.
Heaven knew she didn’t want to leave him. Didn’t want to cast aside the tenderness and passion they’d found in each other’s arms. But she had no choice. She could not forsake her grandmother. No matter what, she would be there with the darling woman who had always loved her without condition. Surely, he could understand.
For her part, Mrs. Gilroy had grown quiet. Was the old woman genuinely dismayed by the prospect that Belle would leave? Saying little but giving Belle a supportive squeeze of the hand in the face of her sadness, she’d taken Carrie to her room and tucked the girl in for the night. But the child was unsettled. Understanding more than Belle had hoped, Carrie had returned to the sitting room as they discussed Belle’s options. Standing in the doorway, clutching her rag doll to her heart, the pout on her little face had nearly shattered Belle’s heart. Belle went to the child, taking her back to bed and reading her a story so that she might drift off to sleep.
“You’ve been so good with her,” Macie said warmly as Belle returned. “I can see that she adores you.”
“I must say, I feel the same about her,” Belle said, gulping a breath against the scalding tears in the back of her throat. “She is a sweet and clever little girl. She will soon be a wonderful new addition to your family.”
Finn nodded. “Aye, we’ll be happy to have her with us.” He slanted Macie a glance. “Our little one will have a sister.”
Belle caught a tear before it could make it down her cheek. “And she will be a doting sister, I’m sure.”
Throughout the conversation, Jon had gone very quiet, that single telltale muscle betraying the tension coursing through his body.
“I suppose I should take Cleo home,” Macie said, readying the cloth traveling bag she’d brought for her cat. “I have missed the little dickens.”
“Cleo will be happy she no longer has to tolerate Heathy,” Jon said, sounding a bit cold.
Macie frowned at him. “My, Jon, I doubt she bothered totoleratehim. She’s quite independent, as you know.” She slanted Belle a smile. “If anything, the poor dog was likely outsmarted by my clever girl many a time.”
“I’d have to agree,” Belle said. “At least, from my observation, brief as it was.”
“Belle, I will return in the morning,” Macie said, offering the warmest of hugs and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll help you prepare for your voyage in any way that I can. And perhaps, I will convince you to come back... just as soon as you can.”
“I do not believe I will need to be convinced,” Belle said.
“I’ll be here as well,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “I will assist in making the necessary arrangements.”
“Thank you,” Belle said as Mrs. Johnstone put aside her reserve to also offer a hug.
And then, they were gone. Mrs. Gilroy closed the door behind Mrs. Johnstone as she departed the residence. Turning to Belle, she regarded her with a careworn expression.
“I am off to rest these weary bones,” she said. “This has been quite a day.”
“Indeed,” Belle agreed. “I’ll soon be off to bed myself.”
“Sleep well,” the housekeeper said. “Ye’ve got a busy day ahead of ye.”
