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“With Vernon and everything,” she hastily added. “And the people in the woods.”
Myles sighed. “Well, it is going to be another couple of days before the river levels fall enough for us to be able to cross the moat, or look for Eva’s body. The only good thing to come out of all of this is that we have at least discovered a way in and out of the property when it rains.” He smiled at her but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Estelle wasn’t lost to the fact that the closer they came to the property the wider the distance grew between them. For the first time ever, their conversation became stilted and awkward. She sensed it was because they both wanted to say things they knew were inappropriate given the circumstances and tried not to feel bad about it, even though she was filled with heartache.
“I need to see my grandma,” she said softly.
Myles looked at her when he heard the wistfulness in her voice and nodded. “I am sure she will be greatly relieved to see you are well. I will, of course, leave it to you to decide what to tell her.”
Estelle looked at him and fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Myles caught that look. His brows lifted. “What?”
“You sound so full of pomposity,” she chided him ruefully.
He opened his mouth to argue with her but closed it again with a snap when he contemplated what he had just said and realised she was right.
When she disappeared into the main body of the house, he ducked his head and followed her.
Later that morning, Estelle stared out across the lush grounds of Icklehampton Hall but saw little of the neatly tended box hedgerows, or the abundance of riotous colour the numerous flowers and plants valiantly displayed in spite of the recent battering from the storm.
“Thankfully, it is all over now,” Bobbi murmured gently from behind her.
Estelle looked at her over her shoulder. Her thoughts immediately turned to Myles.
I hope not but I cannot see how it could continue; whatever it is that we shared.
“What is?” She asked blankly.
“The storm, Miss. It will take two or three days more before we can cross the bridge, but at least you can get out a bit and enjoy the sunshine.”
Estelle sighed heavily. “
But I am going home. We have found a route out of the house, did you not know?”
Bobbi looked confused. “No, miss. I never heard such a thing.”
Estelle nodded. “It is why I have requested my dress. It is time for me to go home.”
“Aye, I am sure your grandma will be worried,” Bobbi replied.
“I am sure she has been,” Estelle said with a sigh.
When Bobbi turned her attention back to tucking in the corners on the bed, Estelle turned to stare blankly out of the window again, until a quiet knock on the door heralded the arrival of Myles.
“Are you ready?”
Estelle studied him and felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest. While she had no yearning to ever experience the last few days ever again, she dreaded the thought of not being able to spend any more time with Myles. He had become so important to her that she felt as though she had been cast adrift, and wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself. It was impossible to know where they went now, or if she would ever see him again. The thought of never seeing him again was painful enough to bring a fresh wave of tears which threatened to overspill at any moment.
She nodded. “I-” she lapsed into silence because she didn’t know what else she could say.
Myles nodded to Bobbi, who quietly let herself out of the room. Once they were alone, he walked toward Estelle, but there as something on her face, a distance perhaps, that stopped him before he had taken no more than three steps into the room.
Determined not to cry in front of him, Estelle offered him a brave smile and tipped her chin up.
“Let’s go then. I am sure you are eager to meet with the magistrate and get the villagers rounded up.”
When Myles merely nodded but didn’t offer her any small ray of hope, Estelle stepped around him and walked to the door. It was obvious that the feelings she had for him were not reciprocated. She certainly wasn’t in any position to throw herself at him. She was a commoner, nothing more.
