Page 13 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
“And what? Continue to serve in the house while being so close to her?” William asked, turning around suddenly and facing Mr Westley. “Do you honestly think I could have gone on, my heart beating only for her yet never being able to speak a word of my feelings.”
“You could have done it, just like others have done before you. You think you’re the first footman to fall in love with a member of your master’s family? It’s been happening since the beginning of time. But you should have remembered your place. Miss Caroline must be so heartbroken now.”
William stilled for a minute, looking at Mr Westley with tears in his eyes. His brain told him that the man was right, but his heart shouted at his brain to be quiet and remember all the special times he’d spent with Caroline these past few months.
“I must be going now, Mr Westley. It was an honour to get to work with you,” William said as he returned to saddling his horse.
“I’ve enjoyed your company, William,” Mr Westley replied as William pulled himself up into the saddle. “I will have your last payment and letter delivered to you in a few days.” William simply nodded at the man and then led his gelding out of the dimly lit barn.
It was a cool night as he made his way across the lands of the Earl towards his own cottage. Though dark, the moon illuminated the familiar way home. His emotions raged inside of him as he tried to think what he was going to do. Once he returned home and faced his own father, he feared how the man would react to knowing that William had lost the only job that was keeping them alive.
The realization that he’d just lost his only form of income hit him like a ton of bricks. He’d not only lost the love of his life, but also the only way to maintain his and his father’s lives. Tears began to seep from his eyes as he rode his horse through the night. The only good thing about the darkness that night was that it helped shield his grief-stricken face from being viewed by anyone else.
However, as he returned home and put his horse away in the stables, he saw that Grendel was still at the cottage. She was the first to witness his pain and agony. She rose from the chair beside the hearth where she had a candle lit and was reading an old book. But as soon as William stepped in the house and she approached with the candle in her hand, she covered her mouth with one hand and then came near to embrace him.
“Oh, William. What thing has happened to make you be so sad?” she exclaimed, her head pressed into her chest as she embraced him for all she was worth.
“The Earl has let me go,” he said in a shaky voice. Grendel took a quick step back to peer into his eyes, the candle dancing in her hand. She seemed to notice she was holding the candle still and began to light the others in the room before setting it down on the table.
“Come and sit. Tell me why the man has done this,” she said, motioning towards the chair at the head of the table. William slouched down into it, feeling as though he wouldn’t be able to hold himself up for much longer.
“You mustn’t tell a soul, Grendel. No one must know what has happened,” William said, feeling weary and tired all of a sudden.
“Fear not, boy. There is no one else alive that I would tell, anyway,” she said with a soft smile.
“I fell in love with Miss Caroline, the Earl’s daughter. She did confess her love for me this night, and in return her father fired me and turned me out of his home,” William explained, his eyes focusing on the candle on the wooden table. It was aged and worn, much like the rest of the cottage, and he began to wonder if Caroline would have been happy living in such a meagre home.
“William, I’m so sorry to hear such a tale. Your heart must be broken, and no doubt you fear exceedingly for your future.”
“Yes, I do,” he confessed with a sigh. “Is Father awake still?”
Grendel shook her head. “He fell asleep early after I made him take the powder. Seems to be doing better tonight.” William nodded, thinking that it was a small blessing that at least his father was a bit better tonight.
“Go home now, Grendel. We can discuss things…” William was cut off by the sound of someone banging on the front door, startling him. He quickly got up from the table, wondering who on earth would be up this late and demanding his attention. But as soon as William opened the door and Caroline’s smiling face looked up at him from the darkness outside, he felt a whole new flood of tears come to his eyes.
Quickly taking her hand, William pulled her inside and shut the door before folding his arms around her. He didn’t understand why she was here or how she had been able to find his cottage in the dark. But now that he had his arms around her, even as she sobbed with her head pressed into his chest, he really didn’t care.
“Caroline, my love, you shouldn’t be here,” William said between his own sobs. “I love you and love holding you, but you’ve risked your own well-being by coming tonight.”
“I couldn’t bear it any longer, William. I can’t stay in that house and never see you again,” Caroline said as she leaned back and looked up into his eyes. He wiped her tears away with his hand as she did the same for him. “William, please. Run away with me. Let us set off for the north and reach Gretna Green to be married. Then, when we return to England, no one will be able to separate us.”
William was surprised by what Caroline was suggesting. It really did seem like the only reasonable option for them to marry and be together. But would Caroline really be happy with her choice? He had no employment, no means for providing for her. And would she be able to find work of her own?
When it came to the unknowns about their future together and the opposite of never being able to see her again, William reasoned that he’d rather have a harder life with her as his wife than a simple one without her.
“Yes, let’s do it. We can ride tonight and make it there in a few days,” William said, breaking their embrace so he could turn to Grendel. “Could you stay with father for a few days? Tell him what happened for me, please.”
“Of course, I will,” she agreed with a bright smile, her hands clasped in front of her. “You go and marry the girl. We can figure out the rest when you get back.”
“Thank you, Grendel. I will repay you someday,” he said with a broad grin. Then, after quickly gathering everything he might need, including a small purse of coins, he led Caroline out into the dark.
“We should take my mare. They will discover our plans if they find her here,” Caroline said as she stopped and pointed to where she’d tied her horse to a nearby sapling.
“As you wish,” William said, thinking Caroline was the most intelligent creature he had ever met. He approached the mare and rubbed its neck, allowing the beast to get used to him. Then, he pulled himself up onto the saddle, his leather bag over his shoulder before he helped Caroline settle onto the back of the horse with him. With her arms secured tightly around his middle and the fine leather reigns in his hands, he urged the horse forward at a trot until the open road came before them. Then, with a flick of the reins, he sent the mare into a full gallop, knowing they needed to make haste.
~*~
It was late and she was exhausted, but at that moment, Caroline didn’t care. She was with William, they were on their way to be married, and that was all that she cared about in that moment.
