Page 36 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
“This man is spinning lies,” Caroline declared.
“I come bearing terrible news, Lord Murphy. I’m afraid that Caroline is in shock,” Lord Canton said, glancing at the older Earl before turning his gaze back on Caroline.
“What news?” Lord Murphy demanded to know.
“Lord and Lady Goldman have been reported deceased following a terrible carriage accident on their way to town. My scouts say the roads have been flooded from the sudden rain, causing plenty of problems for travellers,” Lord Canton explained.
“My God, are you certain of this?” Lord Murphy asked as his mouth fell open in surprise.
“I’m quite certain,” Lord Canton said to the Earl before turning his eyes back on Caroline. Her anger only continued to grow at the thought that Lord Murphy would believe such lies.
“Leave us, Lord Canton. I will consult with Miss Caroline. As her appointed guardian, and a married man, I shall be the one to be with her now,” Lord Murphy said in a firm voice. Lord Canton eyed him wearily, and Caroline wondered if he was going to listen to Lord Murphy’s command. But eventually, Lord Canton bowed his head and moved towards the open doors.
Caroline listened to the sound of the front door opening and closing. Looking at the carpets, she saw the wet footprints Lord Canton had left behind. She stared at them until Lord Murphy came to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, startling her for a moment before she looked up at him.
“I will send my footmen to the streets to uncover the truth of this matter,” Lord Murphy said in a soft voice. “I think it would be wise if you sat down or rested for a bit. This can take some time and become quite exhausting.”
“It can’t be true,” Caroline said in a soft voice. “It just can’t.”
Caroline hadn’t expected Lord Murphy’s embrace as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. “If it is true, you need not fear. I shall house you and take you on as our own. I shall treat you like my own daughter,” he said softly into her hair.
“Thank you,” Caroline said, not knowing what else to say. He then guided her down into a chair and pulled the servant’s cord.
Caroline felt like she was in a dazed state as the butler came into the room. She didn’t hear what Lord Murphy said because all she could think about was her parents. Eventually, she started to think about her life and what she would do if the news was true. What kind of life would she have then without her parents?
There came a time in the day when Lady Murphy and Gwendolen joined her in the sitting room. They sat on either side of Caroline, soothing her with words of comfort. They encouraged her to drink some tea and Caroline basically did all that she was asked to do. But the whole time, reality seemed like a distant dream and she could barely reason to what was happening around her.
It was late in the evening when the royal magistrate came to Lord Murphy’s townhouse. Caroline had been thinking it was rather late for visitors and that her parents should have arrived by now. She looked up from where she still sat in the sitting room and noticed the man in his fine clothing. He came to her and kneeled before her, just like Lord Canton had done before. Then, he issued her a scroll of paper. She took it and unravelled it, reading the message printed there. As the words settled into her mind, her hands began to shake, and she quickly passed the scroll to Lord Murphy.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Miss Goldman. I will notify your father’s solicitor, and the man will be in contact with you in a few days,” the royal magistrate said. He dipped his head low and then slowly stood back up. He said his goodbyes to Lord Murphy then and left the townhouse promptly.
“Miss Caroline, this is an official document,” Lord Murphy said. “I will begin making the funeral arrangements.” Caroline only nodded, then turned her attention on Gwendolen. There were tears in her friend’s eyes and Caroline tried to fathom why she wasn’t crying, too.
“Let’s have the lady’s maid prepare a bath for Miss Caroline,” she heard Lady Murphy said. “It seems she has gone into shock.”
“Come on, Caroline. Let’s get you into bed after a nice hot bath. I’ll ask Cook to make you up something special for dinner,” Gwendolen said in a shaky voice, though a smile remained on her lips.
Caroline allowed her friend to guide her to her feet and lead her to her bedchamber. All the while, she couldn’t think of anything to say. The reality of it all hadn’t settled in her mind yet. And after a nice bath and a decent meal, Caroline got into bed.
When the lady’s maid left and Lady Murphy said goodnight, Gwendolen remained with her. She crawled into bed with Caroline and held her tightly. It was only then that Caroline thought to speak.
“Gwendolen, is it really true? Are my parents dead?” Caroline asked, the darkness seeming almost too much for her to bear.
“Yes, my dearest Caroline. The horrible news is true,” she said, her voice cracking. As she felt her friend begin to sob, so did Caroline finally let out her grief and agony. Her wails of pain filled the night air, and for the longest time, she thought it would never stop. How was she supposed to live without her parents? What would become of her now that she had no more family members to turn to?
Caroline wasn’t sure what time of night it happened, but eventually she fell asleep when her sobs exhausted her beyond her breaking point.
Chapter 20
With the morning came the papers detailing the death of Lord and Lady Goldman. William saw it with his own eyes and felt a deep grief settle into his soul. Not only had he missed his opportunity to finally speak to Lord Goldman and detail all the wrongdoings of Lord Canton, but he also knew that Caroline would be feeling immense pain.
After reading the details of the accident, William gathered his things. He placed the top hat on his head and pulled on his walking gloves. Then, he left the house in search of a way to bring Caroline some comfort.
Being so close to the shops district, it didn’t take William long to start looking into all the shop windows. Most of the things he saw seemed rather boring or typical. It was only when he passed by a stall of bundled flowers that he stopped and looked at a small bouquet of daffodils. William was surprised to see them, considering they typically bloomed in spring. William quickly purchased all the daffodils the seller had and made haste in walking to Lord Murphy’s townhouse.
As he neared the home, he saw that he was not the only one who had come to pay Caroline their respects. The front door was left open, and several men and women passed in and out of the house as he walked up the pathway.
Inside, he waited outside the sitting room after being greeted by the butler, who explained that Caroline was only receiving a few guests at a time. When it was finally his turn to enter, William took off his top hat, holding it in one hand and the flowers in the other as he stepped into the room.
