Once we reached Bordon's, Braden, Brielle and I saddled Belial and Lightning; I led Belial at a trot, restraining him from a full out gallop because of Lightning and the children.
Once home, after unsaddling the horses and placing them in their stalls, the children and I headed into the house; Braden and Brielle went straight upstairs to the master bedchamber, while I went into the sitting room.
(Back to Mary's POV)
I was in the middle of a conversation with Thomas' wife, Charlotte, when Braden and Brielle came bursting through the door.
"Mama! Aunt Charlotte!" Said Brielle, embracing me, and then her aunt.
"Where is your father?" Charlotte asked.
"He's downstairs." Braden replied.
"Braden, why are you home so early?" I asked.
Braden shrugged.
"Father just wanted to leave. He seemed upset at something."
A concerned look crossed my face.
"Charlotte, could you please excuse me for a while? I'm going downstairs."
Charlotte nodded and said, "Braden, Brielle, stay here with me."
I headed downstairs.
"William? Where are you?"
"In here." A voice replied from the sitting room.
I found William in a chair, staring into space, eyes glazed.
"You're home early…"
William nodded vaguely.
"William, what is the matter?" I asked, walking over to him. "You're pale and sweating."
"I… nevermind, it probably never happened. I was just seeing things."
"What did you see?" I asked, caressing the side of his face.
"Braden and I were going to meet Bordon and Brielle after we had left Calder's when I was rammed by a man who looked as if he could have been my father."
"William, you father is dead."
"Yes but the resemblance was uncanny, the face the eyes; they held familiarity in them."
"It's not possible.."
"I know; I'm such a fool. It's just that…"
"Hush… It's all right." I said pulling him to me. "He's dead, William. You've nothing to fear."
(William's POV)
Later that evening, my brothers, along with the captain, Cristabel and Charlotte came over for supper. It should have been a relaxing evening, with plenty to eat, and it was, that is, it was for everyone except me. I hardly ate anything. Peter and Thomas cast me questioning glances, and Edward even asked me if something was wrong; but I just shrugged and replied, "I'm just not very hungry this evening."
Edward's gaze was still questioning, but he nodded and continued to eat. Thomas however, was not content with my answer; he glanced over at Mary. Thankfully, she only glanced back, shook her head, and continued to eat as well.
As the night wore on, things didn't get any better. Thomas continued to glance at me in between bites of his meal. When it was time for him to leave with the others, he pulled me aside in one of the spare rooms downstairs.
"Will, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing…"
"That's not true. You and I both know it. You ate about two bites of supper and didn't talk the entire time, save for your excuse to Edward. Not to mention, you're white as a ghost."
"Thomas"
"Something is troubling you. You seemed so distracted during supper that when I asked you to pour me a glass of whine, you nearly poured it on the table!"
"Thomas, I don't want to discuss it."
"Will"
"Thomas, I said I don't want to discuss it!"
Thomas glared at me.
"I'm not your enemy Will. I'm just concerned for you. And frankly, I'm not the only one either."
"I'm not going to say anything!" I said indignantly.
"Thomas, darling what is the matter?"
My brother's wife, Charlotte, had entered the room.
"Nothing for you to be concerned about, my dear."
"Shall we be going then?"
Thomas nodded.
"Good night, Colonel." Said Charlotte.
"Good night." I replied. "And thank you for staying with Mary today."
After everyone had left, I went upstairs; got dressed in my nightclothes, and laid down. But I knew sleep was far from coming. Still, I made attempts in hopes that I would find some state of relaxation.
Mary entered our bedchamber an hour later. She walked over to where I was lying and bent over me, stroking the side of my face and hair.
"Mary, I'm sorry"
She shook her head, placing a finger on my lips to silence me.
"I'm going mad.."
"Hush William. You're not going mad. But I am concerned for you. How can you see a man who died over twenty years ago?"
"I don't know…"
"Well, as I've said before, I don't believe you're going mad. We don't even know if what you saw was true."
"He stared at me Mary, as if he knew who I was. And his eyes; they were identical to my own. They were the white-blue eyes of a Tavington.
"True, the white-blue eyes are a tell-tale trademark of the Tavington lineage. I don't know what to tell you William. All I have to say is that I'm here for you."
I nodded and pulled Mary down to rest against me.
"Thank you."
Mary smiled.
"Every thing will turn out all right. Don't fret William."
