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Liam nodded, and staring off into the distance, he took a drink again. “What am I tae do now, Mrs. Maclean?”
“Time will pass, and yer heart will mend. I promise. But until then, ye must keep yer chin high and return tae yer work. Find ways tae busy yerself. Dinnae keep idle. And I say ye should keep away from that house of fallen women. They will see ye trapped soon enough.”
Liam felt a hole getting bigger in his heart. He had to learn to live without Elizabeth. And even though he was angry at her, he could not quell the love for her that just kept growing. It seemed he would never be rid of it! What kind of a life would this be now?
But he did not make his concerns known. He simply nodded, and they sat in companionable silence for a time. Charlotte and Julia soon blundered into the kitchen, and Mrs. MacLean and Liam both stood up in surprise.
“Lady MacLeans, ye have also returned so soon?”
Charlotte said breathlessly, “Oh, I am sorry for that, Mrs. MacLean, but we had to return to tell Liam that we found a letter sent to Elizabeth as well.”
“What?”
Charlotte stretched her hand out to him, a folded letter between her fingertips. “Father found this after Elizabeth left. It seemed to have fallen out of her cloak. Liam read the letter quickly and then crumpled it in his fist.
“So that is why she’d come to see me in the forest. Brea, again.”
“I know! I was going to say that is not your handwriting. Elizabeth needs to know this!”
“Why? What difference would it make? She is engaged to John now. It is done.”
“But they are notmarried. And at the moment, she thinks that you lured her there with your letter to prove just how cruel you were and to show her that you might still be interested in continuing relations with Brea.”
Liam said nothing, and Julia exclaimed, “Do you not wish to make amends? Perhaps there is hope? Perhaps her anger at your betrayal made her jump into the arms of another man?”
Liam’s head was spinning. “What am I to do? She has gone to see her dying father! Am I to follow after and intrude upon such a private moment with her family?”
Charlotte shook her head and scrunched her nose in thought. “No, no. I think that I shall write a letter to tell her that it was not you who wrote the letter and about Brea’s kiss and revelation to you. It might encourage her to return to us quickly.”
“And what of the engagement?” he said sourly. “And what if she truly doesnae want me? What if she does love John after all?”
Charlotte pushed Liam’s shoulder. “Liam MacLean, do not be such an idiot!” Her loud voice pulled him from his sulk. He crossed his arms. Charlotte said, “That woman loves you more than she could ever admit. I know it. She has now gone and thrown her life away because I think she felt you would not want her.” She waited a moment, watching his stiff demeanor before saying, “Do you not wish to see if there is a chance? A chance at happiness for you both? Or would you prefer to spend the rest of your life here, drinking too much whiskey and bemoaning your fate?”
Liam sighed. “Go then. Write yer letter, lass. What am I tae do in the meantime?”
“Wait. Like a good lover should.” Laughing, Charlotte and Julia rushed away to compose their letter, and Mrs. MacLean smiled at him.
“Ye see? Perhaps ye will have a second chance then.”
He shook his head. “I dinnae think so. John will nae give up his new fiancé so easily. And who knows if she even wanted me for a husband? I have naething to give her.”
Mrs. MacLean moved to his side and placed a soft hand on his cheek. “Ye have love tae give her, lad. That is all she’ll need. I expect she has had a lifetime without enough of it, with that horrible father of hers.”
Mrs. MacLean left the room, leaving Liam alone with his whiskey, mulling everything over. Would love be enough to save them?
* * *
Aunt Mildred and Elizabeth had waited at the prison until men came and took her father’s body away, to keep it until it was time to find a place for his burial. He would be allowed to be buried in the family plot, even though he had been a prisoner, which seemed to soothe Aunt Mildred somewhat.
They rode back together to the London house, and Aunt Mildred said, “I am the last of the family, then. I do not know what I shall do without him, my brother. He was always my guide. He always knew everything. I depended greatly on his discretion and help.”
Elizabeth forgot that Mildred had been so attached to her father. He had always been so overwhelming in her own life that she neglected to think of the effect he might have had on others. Instead of using words, she simply held her aunt’s hand in comfort. Both of them were exhausted, and Elizabeth dreamed of heading right to her bed when they arrived back at the house, but once they did so, she said, “I suppose we must go to the solicitor’s.”
Mildred nodded gravely. The woman had dark circles under her eyes, and she looked more haggard than normal. Elizabeth feared she looked the same. Mildred added, “Let us have tea and a change of clothes, and then I think we will be ready. We must begin proceedings this day. Once we return, we can go to bed. My dear, I am so thankful you have come all this way to do what your father wished you to do. I know that he was happy in his final moments. That is some comfort, at least.”
Elizabeth nodded vaguely, her mind feeling hazy and unfocused. There were too many things to think about, and her body craved a bath and sleep, but tea would have to suffice. She left her aunt to go to a guest room upstairs to prepare her toilet.
Two hours later, both of them felt refreshed by the hot tea and a quick change of clothing. It was not the same as hours in bed, but it would have to do. Elizabeth was eager to resolve everything and finally be done with the promise she had made. She could finally get some measure of peace that she had done both what her father and her mother would have wished.
