“What are you remembering, my love?” Peter asked, joining them in the parlor.
“Peter, darling, do you remember a Mr. Hughes coming to call?”
Peter frowned before nodding. “Yes. The visit was most odd, as I’ve never met the gentleman before.”
“Oh, Peter, Mr. Hughes was calling on Bett. They met at the Fleming house party back in June.”
Bett watched Peter’s reaction closely. Why was he frowning? Would he admit he’d been rude to Noah and finally tell her about his visit?
“I see. I wasn’t aware of that fact,” he said.
“I can see now that I should have shared my interest in Mr. Hughes with you earlier, Peter. Did you at least inform him that I was visiting with Lady Persing and would be returning soon?”
Peter shook his head. “I did not. I saw no need, as you never mentioned him or your interest in having him call on you.”
Peter was right in that regard. She inwardly groaned at her foolishness in not mentioning Noah before. She hoped she hadn’t ruined her chances of ever seeing him again. “Of course. I do apologize for not mentioning him before. However, if Mr. Hughes should call on me again, I’d be very much interested in seeing him.”
“Have you developed a tendre for him?” Peter asked, his lips pinched in a stern line.
“Very much so, and I do believe he feels the same.”
Cecily clapped. “Oh, darling! Isn’t that wonderful? I do hope something will come of this, Bett, so you may be as happy as Peter and I.”
“Thank you, Cecily. I hope for that as well.” Bett wasn’t sure Peter was as pleased as his wife about this turn of events, but he would have no say over whether she accepted Noah’s suit, should he propose. She’d reached her majority and wouldn’t need his permission to marry. He should be glad to be rid of her, but an uneasy feeling that that might not be the case settled in her gut.
Mr. Hughes, I do hope all is well with your uncle, and you’ll come to call on me again soon. I need you more than ever, my darling.
Noah stood ramrod straightas the vicar read the prayer.
“Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the souls of our dear brothers here departed, we therefore commit their bodies to the ground. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Noah had pushed back Aiden’s funeral service two days to be able to bury Uncle Charles alongside his son. Father and son had been close in life, and he knew Charles would want to be joined with Aiden in death. He stared in disbelief at the bodies of his family members, who’d been so vibrant mere months ago. What was he going to do without them?
The staff and many of the tenants had come to pay their respects. Everyone loved his uncle and cousin, and he was glad to see the turnout.
A light drizzle began to fall, and it fit Noah’s mood perfectly—dark, dank, and miserable. He hadn’t slept in the past two days and could hardly come to terms with the fact that his family had been taken from him so soon.
The vicar concluded the ceremony with a closing prayer. “Almighty God, we rejoice in your promise of love, joy, and peace. In your mercy, turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven; through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died, rose again, and lives forevermore. Amen.”
When he closed the prayer book, Noah turned to those assembled. “Thank you all for coming to pay your respects to the viscount and my cousin. I very much appreciate it. They were both well-loved and will be sorely missed.”
One by one, those in attendance said a few words to him as they departed, and Noah took comfort in knowing that they were sincerely given. When the mourners had left, the footmen carried the bodies of both Uncle Charles and Aiden into the crypt, laying them side by side on the largest slab.
“Thank you, you may return to the house,” Noah said to them.
The vicar had followed them into the crypt and stood silently while Noah took in the gravity of the situation. His family was gone, and he would never have the pleasure of seeing them or hearing their voices again. Tears streamed down his face as he laid his hand on his uncle’s chest.
“Uncle Charles, I hope you’re at peace now that you’re with your beloved Aiden. I shall miss you both forever.”
The vicar stepped forward and placed a soothing hand on Noah’s back. “My lord, I’m so very sorry for your loss. If you have need of me, you only need to summon me. I will come at once.”
The hole in Noah’s heart seemed cavernous. Even the vicar’s kind words and offer of support didn’t soothe him. His grief was immense, and he looked at the vicar with a tear-stained face. “Thank you, vicar. That’s very kind of you.”
The vicar left, but Noah found it hard to depart. Once he walked through the crypt doors, he would never see his family again. His feet seemed glued to the floor as he tried to process the tragedy. In a matter of days, his life had been turned upside down. What was he supposed to do now? He was like a small rowboat adrift in the ocean waves without any oars.
He had no idea how long he stood there. By the time he left the crypt and closed the door behind him, the sky had darkened, and fat rain clouds had started to fall. He’d barely started the walk back to Harrison Manor when the skies opened up, sending a deluge of rain down upon him. Thunder boomed, and lightning flashed overhead. Noah looked up and screamed, a gut-wrenching scream full of anger, hurt, and disbelief. “Why God? Why take my family away from me?” He’d never been much of a religious man, but now his anger at a vengeful god spilled out as he railed against the fierce wind and torrential downpour.
Thunder boomed again as if the heavens agreed with him and were screaming their displeasure at his family’s untimely deaths. By the time he reached the manor, he was drenched through to his skin.
