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Chapter 5
How unlucky to have her hiding place busted that way, she thought as she pushed the library’s door open. The smell and the sight of books immediately calmed her down. She sat on an armchair, beside which there was a stack of books she had begun reading.
The Major’s questioning about her family upset her. Her childhood had been the average gentry one. Alternating between the country and London, she and Charles had ample opportunities to play, read or discover nature. Until her adolescence, Charles had been her playmate. They ran through the land around their country house or browsed the library in the city. Their governess had been able to stir them without much problems. Later, the way Charles had been spoiled started to interfere with their relationship.
He went to boarding school, which made them apart for long months. Each time he came home for the holidays, he seemed more different. They had grown apart. She feared that the time he started his gambling troubles. He’d become irascible, in bad mood and distant. She barely recognised him. With him distant, she concentrated in her studies, thriving in them. Her mother had taken upon her the step-son’s raising and loved him as a son. His bad habits made her sorrowful and prone to sickness. His hollow promises to stop gambling made things even worse. It hadn’t taken much for her to go down with a fever that killed her in the end. Selene sighed, now she found herself here because of his addiction.
She’d got so engrossed in her reading, she lost track of time. A sudden sound and the door opened. Philip came in without excusing himself, a dark expression on his angular manly face.
“Selene,” Her name in his rich velvet voice caused her spine to tingle. “You’d better come with me.”
She didn’t miss the sombre note. “What is it?” She closed the book, placing it on the side table.
“John. He felt a pain in the chest and fell in the study.”
Alarm and apprehension dominated her. She rushed out, heart pounding. She turned in the direction of the study.
“No.” She heard him behind her. “I had the footmen take him to his chambers and call the doctor.”
In quick paces, she reached her husband’s rooms, which were next to hers. Philip advanced and opened the door for her.
John lay in bed in his trousers and shirt, coat and cravat gone. So still, a sunken expression on his wrinkled kind face, that she was taken aback. None of his level-headedness or his gentle personality showed here.
She quickly ran to his side and placed a palm on his cool forehead.
“What did you do to him?” She turned accusingly to Rockfield.
His brows pleated irritably. “I didn’t do anything!” His hands flew to his pockets. “We were talking about the estate bookkeeping and all of a sudden, he brought his hand to his chest and fell.” He stared angrily at her. “This all that happened!”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d said something to upset him.” She devolved nonplussed.
“I’d never do that!”
She looked at him sceptically and turned her attention back to the older man.
The doctor arrived and politely asked her to wait outside, as he believed ladies were of delicate constitution. She thought it nonsense, but they couldn’t waste any time, so she left.
An afflicted hour passed before the doctor came out of the room. He didn’t need to say it aloud. It showed all over his face. John had passed away.
In distress, she asked. “How did it happen?”
The doctor made a vague gesture. “His heart stopped. A very common occurrence in his age.” Philip approached. “He was lucky to live such a long life. I know of few people who come to that in our times.” He offered as solace.
She walked into the room and sat on a chair beside John, now covered with a bed sheet. She felt sad that this gentle man had to pass away so abruptly. She rested her hand over his under the sheet and lowered her head. At least he died peacefully and without suffering.
Someone came to stand by her. Philip. He placed a respectful hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
Head still bent, she nodded. “Thank you.”
Philip looked at his uncle’s form under the sheet and grieved. The man that had been a loving father to him, a
mentor, a model since he’d turned six years of age. Always present, always mindful to a boy’s needs. Philip would forever be grateful to him.
He remembered arriving at this house after his parents’ funeral. Confused, sad, uncertain about his future. John had received him open arms, treating him with a kindness that helped Philip go through the difficult first months. After that, governesses, tutors, Eton, everything he needed was bestowed on him, provided by his uncle. He grew up grateful and came to love him dearly. In time, he came to terms with his parents’ carriage accident and moved on, becoming a man who valued his share in life. He’d miss John dearly, he couldn’t deny it.
It didn’t take long until the vicar arrived and the preparations and rituals for the funeral started.
It all passed in a blur for Selene. The house filled with people who wanted to pay their respects to the Duke of Crompton. Naturally, his rank and position attracted many mourners, standing in a line to express their condolences to the duchess and the heir. As an automaton, she went about managing the servants and their tasks under the circumstances.
