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William had expected as much, but he didn’t plan on revealing their destination until they finally arrived. Even though he thought she might like where he’d taken her, he still felt a tremor of nervousness go through him. It had been so long since he’d been there himself, and he’d been reminding himself to visit for a while now. It was only fitting to do so with Elizabeth in tow.
The hour passed comfortably. Elizabeth gave up trying to figure it out herself soon enough and spoke about other inconsequential things instead. The light conversation was meant to distract them both from their conversation in his study earlier and William was eager to give in to it. He didn’t want to think about any other gentleman standing between them right now. He only wanted to relax with her, to finally let the rest of his guard down and let himself simply love her.
The slowing carriage marked their arrival, even though nothing could be seen on either side but tall grassland. There were no homes, no buildings, only a lonely road. Elizabeth peered out the window with her confusion written all over her face, but she didn’t voice her thoughts aloud.
Wesley came to open the carriage door and Elizabeth exited first and William alighted right behind her, taking the blanket Wesley held out to him. A strong gust of wind rushed by and she put her hand on her bonnet, fiddling with the strings to ensure that it was secure enough. William waited until she was done looking around—clearly looking for their destination—before he took her hand in his and gestured his head to the side.
Elizabeth’s confusion deepened. William led her to the left of the carriage, stepping across the large weed-like grass that swayed under the now gentle wind. In the distance was a single tree surrounded by wild bluebells, growing taller and wider the closer they came.
Once they were under the cover of its leaves, William drew to a halt and rested the folded blanket on a thick layer of grass.
“This is it,” he told her.
Elizabeth said nothing. She looked around at the tall tree. William watched her, waiting for the exact moment she would realize.
It came a second later, when her eyes landed on the cluster of rocks put together a little too perfectly. “Is that—?”
William shook his head. “She was buried at St. Paul’s Cathedral,” he explained.
“Ah…yes, I remember.”
It wasn’t a day he could ever forget. The burial had occurred almost one week after his mother’s death, only because his grandfather had been too hard at work trying to ensure no rumors regarding her death began to circulate. In the end, it had been a hasty burial and though William had known that his father could not possibly return from India during that time, he’d hated the fact that he wasn’t present. All he could think in that moment, as he’d watched his mother’s coffin go into the ground, was that he could have at least seen her off, seeing that he was the one who’d driven her to her death in the first place.
The anger that possessed him had threatened to consume him whole at that time, but right now, he felt no tremors of it. No resentment towards his father, no anguish at his mother’s death. He felt…content. He felt as if he could finally accept what had happened and overcome it all with the lady by his side.
“She liked bluebells,” William spoke into the silence. “In fact, she fancied anything that happened to be the color blue. Half her wardrobe had been filled with that color. So I thought I would set up a little memorial here, so I could visit her whenever I want.”
“I understand,” Elizabeth said softly. “She always was a carefree spirit. I think she would have liked to be buried somewhere like here.”
“I think so, too.” Not letting go of Elizabeth’s hand, he approached the cluster of rocks he’d set up for his mother. The flowers he’d last brought were now gone, undoubtedly wilted and whisked away by the harsh wind. That wind now tore at him as he closed his eyes, letting his memories wash over him.
“Good day, My Lady,” Elizabeth spoke softly. William opened his eyes, looking down at her. A smile flickered over her lips as she continued. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. It has certainly been a while.”
Elizabeth tightened his grip on his hand, letting her smile widen. “I’m sure you have been watching us from above this entire time. Are you proud of us? Certainly, you are impressed with how well I handled your stubborn son, even though he could be quite frustrating sometimes.” She giggled. “But we are happy now. You can rest with ease knowing that I will do my best to make sure William has no reason to be sad or angry anymore and that he will look forward to each day he was given.”
