:: CHAPTER SEVEN ::
Through the empty kitchen, round empty corridors, up the shallow staircase, Will carried Lizzy in his arms. He moved silently, and stepped with an urgency previously unmatched, but with care, as he transported her limp body through the great house.
What seemed like an age later, he arrived in her chamber. It had not been touched since she had left.
He lay her down in her bed, taking special care with her head, pulling back the sheets and removing the coat from around her, along with his shirt. He threw it on the floor, removing her shoes moments later. The wind howled outside the windows and the panes rattled malevolently. Fear and worry gripped Will as he found a woollen throw and wrapped her hair in it.
He raised her skirt just to her knees, protecting her honour, and pulled the sheets on her bed around and underneath her. Her body was cold to the touch, unnerving him. He rubbed her legs as patiently as he could until he felt them warming up. Using his strength, he ripped the sleeves from her dress and covered her arms with more bedclothes.
He wished to undo the bodice that clinged to her, but thought of her embarrassment if she should wake to find him undressing her. A row of buttons led from her waist to the soft swell of her breasts. He gently began to loosen them to reveal the shift covering beneath. He had pictured himself undressing her before, but not like this…
"It's not much,"he said, staring at the cold figure before him as he eased more blankets around her, "but it will have to do." He sat down next to her and took a hand in his own. It was cold to the touch, and chilled him, though it was beginning to warm. Colour was returning to her cheeks. He smiled and knelt closer across the bed. He put his ear close to her mouth and listened to her breath as her teeth began to cease their chattering. "Lizzy?" He asked, gently, putting a calloused on her cheek.
Her eyelids slowly opened. She looked at him dreamily. "Oh, Will!" She said, faintly. He smiled, though not at her words, merely at the fact she had spoken. A deep satisfaction filled him.
"Good, good!" He said. "You can talk! Say something else." She looked at him again, though a little less dreamily than before. She was beginning to gain her countenance.
"Will," she said again, "you ripped my dress!" She smiled after she said this and swallowed deeply, rolling onto one side. Her hair was beginning to dry, along with her ripped dress.
Will sat with her as she closed her eyes and her breathing became deeper. He stayed with her for some time. The sound of company forced him to gently caress her face before pressing her fingers to his mouth and leaving. As he left, he shut the door and turned the key in the lock, though left it in the door, before returning downstairs to help with the problems. No one had noticed his absence.
Old Blunderguts had returned to the room later that day, though, upon seeing the key in the locked door had simply deduced that one of the maids had turned it. She removed the key and continued with her day's activities.
By the next morning Lizzy had recovered; her appetite adding largely to her health as she devoured all the food at her disposal. She spent much of that day stitching up the sleeves of her dress to the rest of it. Her mind was playing tricks on her; she hadn't kissed him, had she?
Come nightfall she was thoroughly distracted. None of her books, which had provided solace so many times before, seemed boring to her now. There was nothing that she could see out of the window; the fog and clouds made sure of that. There was nothing for her to do inside.
She lay back in her bed and twiddled a piece of hair between her fingers, after blowing out her bedside candle. A light in the hall distracted her soon after. She was well away from most of the house; few servants ever needed to come to this part. She sat up and listened to footsteps coming towards her.
A shadow appeared in the crack under her door. A letter was pushed under, and then the shadow disappeared. Lizzy waited for another moment before acting. The light in the hall went out, leaving her in complete and utter darkness.
Lighting the candle next to her bedside she rose and picked up the letter. She examined it for a moment, before bringing it back to her bed. She sat down and lifted it away from the seal. Holding it up to the light she read:
Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth,
I hope that you are well, and feeling much revived from the rain. That woman who was trying to get into the kitchen earlier today, Miss Monroe as I have found her name to be, ensured that I was kept occupied until just now. I wanted to check on you sooner, but I was unable to.
I have been sent to Nottingham for the next few days, by those above, to redeem lace for some lady's dresses. I leave tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn. I must admit, I don't suppose it would have been so immediate had not my absence have been desired 'til your uncle returns.
Eternally yours,
Will
Eternally yours, Lizzy beamed as she blew out the candle. Eternally yours…
The sound of shouting awoke Lizzy late the morning of Will's arrival. The whole house was up in uproar with the Master's return. Pots were clanging, people were running backwards and forwards with polish, and clothes were being re-steamed, pressed, and ironed!
Unusually for so late in the year, the sun was shining and the day was warm. Equally as unusual was the fact that when she awoke, breakfast was already lain out for her, along side a new cream coloured dress. She ate her breakfast, which consisted of fresh fruit and light sandwiches, and put on her new dress. The satin and lace glowed against her skin, the colour perfect!
No sooner was she ready than a knock met her ears.Lizzy stepped away from the door, eying it cautiously. The knock came again.
"Hello?" She questioned towards the door.
It opened. There was no sound of a key turning, no click of the lock as it allowed the door to be opened. Instead, it simply opened revealing a sweet looking maid. She came in and sat Lizzy down in a chair. Then, using the hot paper and towels that she had brought, she began to style Lizzy's hair. Lizzy sat amazed as her hair curled and became preened and proper. Fresh, small, yellow roses were embedded in her darker hair, adding in her elegance.
"Excuse me!" She blurted, finally able to speak, as the maid turned to leave. She stopped and turned, checking the room to see if she had left anything. "What's going on?" The maid looked slightly taken-aback at this question, but stopped and tried to answer it anyhow.
"Sorry, maam," she said, timidly, "I am just here to do you hair for when you meet with your uncle at lunch. I know nothing more about it. Sorry." She added, as she turned and walked off.
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