Jerrison led him to the downstairs parlor. He opened the door and said, “I will leave you to say your final goodbye. If you have need of me, I’ll be outside the door.”
“Thank you, Jerrison. Your loyal service is much appreciated.” He walked inside and saw his cousin lying on a large table in the center of the room. Aiden looked so peaceful like he was merely sleeping. “Oh, Aiden, I’m so very sorry I wasn’t here in your final hours,” Noah said as a fresh round of tears rolled down his face. “We would have had such great fun together in London. I will miss you desperately, cousin, for all the days of my life.”
Noah didn’t know how long he spent with Aiden, but when he finally emerged from the parlor, Jerrison was still waiting outside the door.
“Do you require anything, Master Noah?”
Noah shook his head. “I’ll be in my uncle’s bedchamber,” he said, walking toward the stairs.
“Very good, sir,” the butler said.
Once inside his uncle’s room, Noah refreshed the cloth on the man’s forehead before laying his hand on his uncle’s chest. He could barely feel him breathing through the blankets. “Uncle Charles, can you hear me? I want you to know how grateful I am that you took me in when my parents died. Your loving care helped a little boy heal from a devastating event. To grow up in your household full of laughter and love was more than I thought I could ever have. You’re more like a father to me than my own dear departed Papa. Please don’t leave me.”
There was no response from his uncle.
Noah pulled up a chair next to the bed. He continued to refresh the cloth on his uncle’s forehead, but it seemed to do little good. His uncle’s fever hadn’t broken, but he wanted to be close to his uncle to let him know he wasn’t alone.
He had no idea how long he sat next to the bed. At some point, night had fallen, and he’d fallen asleep, totally exhausted from his mad dash to Oxfordshire. He awoke with a start to find that someone had lit candles in the room, probably Mrs. Jerrison.
He refreshed the cloth and was about to put it on his uncle’s forehead when Charles’s eyes opened. Noah dropped the cloth back into the water and scooted his chair forward. “Uncle Charles, I’m here.”
“Noah, my dear boy,” Charles whispered.
“Uncle, you must fight this.”
“I’m afraid I have no fight left in me now that Aiden’s gone,” Charles rasped as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“You can rally. I’ll be here with you until you’re well again. Please, Uncle, don’t give up. I need you,” Noah pleaded.
Charles squeezed his hand. “Noah, you mean the world to me, but you must gather your courage to get through this devastating time. You will inherit the title and be the new Viscount Harrison. As my brother’s son, you’re the last living male in line for the title. All is spelled out in my will. It’s on the desk in my study. My solicitor, Mr. Henshaw, will assist you.” Before he could continue, a round of severe coughing took hold of him.
Noah grabbed the glass next to the bed. “Here, drink some water. It should help. We can talk about this later. You must rest now.”
Charles could barely swallow the sip of water. “No. I must tell you. Mr. Henshaw has copies of all the important papers you’ll need to understand everything about running the estate.”
“Shhh…Uncle. There’s no need to speak of any of this. You will recover, and we’ll enjoy many more years together.”
Charles shook his head. “I fear that isn’t possible. Know that I have always loved you as a son. You’re as dear to me as Aiden. I know you’ll do good things in this world. I love you, Noah.”
Noah took his uncle’s hand and pressed it to his cheek. “I love you too, Uncle Charles.”
His uncle closed his eyes again, seemingly at peace. Watching his uncle take his final breath was the worst thing Noah could ever imagine. “Noooo….” An ungodly cry full of misery erupted from Noah’s throat.
Jerrison must have heard his distress because the butler was by his side in moments.
Noah looked up at him, tears streaming down his face. “He’s gone, Jerrison. I can hardly fathom the loss.”
“Master Noah, we’re all heartbroken at this tragedy.”
“Send for the doctor.”
Jerrison left to do Noah’s bidding.
It didn’t take long before the doctor arrived and confirmed Noah’s nightmare. His dear uncle was dead. “I’m very sorry for your loss, sir.”
Noah was numb. In a matter of days, he’d lost his beloved cousin and uncle, and now he had to face his greatest fear.
He was all alone in the world.
