Death at Kimbal

Chapter 7

A.N!!  Thank you so much for the 500 reads!!  I never expected to get that many!!!

"Miss Evangeline?" Godfrey asked the young teenager, trying his hardest to be oblivious to the tears that were rolling down her face.  Effie was standing in front of her mother's gravestone, staring at the purple orchids that had been planted in the soft soil.  She turned to face the butler, wiping away the last of her tears,

"Yes Godfrey, what is it?" She walked towards him, starting to become concerned.

"Your father wishes to see you before he leaves Miss." He replied calmly, allowing her to pass through the archway before him.  Effie sighed in relief, so that was it, her father just wanted to say goodbye before he left for his friend's estate in Devon.  He had become depressed after Miriam's death, and his doctors suggested that he should take time off.  As Effie followed the butler through the gardens and back inside she began to worry.  Who would take charge of the estate after her father had left for Devon?  She decided there would be no better idea than to ask him when she could, seeing as he would be the only one with the answer.  She followed the butler along the third corridor, never having been to her father's room before.  At the end of the corridor there was a small wooden door with 'Uther Kimbal' engraved on a plaque beside it.

"Father?" She asked, looking round the door into his dimmed room.

"Shall I go now Miss?" Godfrey asked her, bowing deeply.

"If you would," Effie looked around and smiled kindly at him, "I dare say you have business elsewhere."  The butler rose from his bow, turned on his heel and left.  Effie pushed the door open slowly and walked in, taking care to close it behind her.  The large room was dimly lit with only a couple of candles to show the way.  Uther Kimbal was lying on his large double bed, staring up at the dark red canopy above it and not seeming to register anything that went on.  Effie sat on the bed beside him, taking one of his hands in her two small ones.

"Father?" She whispered, "It's Evangeline, father."

"Effie?" Uther asked quietly, his voice dry and scratchy, "Is it you?"

"It is me father," Effie smiled comfortingly, relieved that he had remembered who she was.  The man looked as if he could have aged twenty years, his hair looked greyer, his face had more wrinkles and his eyes looked large and scared in their sockets.

"When are you leaving for Devon?" She asked her father, squeezing his hand reassuringly, "I wished to say goodbye."

"I depart in five short minutes," He smiled weakly, "When the horses for my carriage are ready."

"I shall see you off." Effie answered, "But I must ask-"

"You wish to know what will happen to the estate?" Uther interrupted her, smirking slightly at the shocked expression on her face, "You will become head of it whilst I am away because your brother isn't old enough."

"Sir," Godfrey appeared in the doorway and bowed deeply, "Your carriage is ready for you."  Uther thanked him and started to get up, wincing in pain as he did.  Effie gasped at the sight before she could stop herself.  Every one of her father's ribs were showing, pressing against his nightgown.

"Thank you father," She said quickly, regaining her composure, "Let me help you." She stood up quickly and grasped her father's arm.  He carefully moved his legs around and placed them on the oak floor.  Effie moved next to him and placed one of his frail arms over her shoulders, trying to give him stability.  As they stood up Uther nearly cried out at the pain shooting through his lower back, the orthopedic doctors assured him it was just a side effect of the depression, but he thought otherwise.  He was reaching fifty now and had to deal with a stressful job as well as the death of the only woman he had ever loved.  Uther thought that this would probably be the end of him, though of course he would never tell others, he would just leave peacefully and quietly.

Effie helped him to the door where a group of the younger servants lifted him onto a stretcher, preparing to carry him to the carriage.  As they walked through the maze of hallways Effie took her father's hand and held it tightly.

As she watched her father climb slowly into his horse-drawn carriage Effie felt someone walk up behind her.  A large hand fell on her shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly.  Luc was standing right behind her, a sad smile on his face.

"I should leave too." He said quietly, only for Effie's ears, "They will be expecting me."

"Who?" Effie asked him, turning around and looking up at the tall Irishman, "Where are you going?"

Luc said nothing and pointed over Effie's shoulder.  Effie turned quickly and waved at her father who was smiling feebly at her.  As soon as his carriage was out of view she put her hand down and turned to face Luc again,

"Where are you going?" She asked again, putting her hands on her hips.

"You look so much like your mother when you do that Evangeline Kimbal," Luc said sadly, trying to take her inside.

"Do not change the subject." Effie snapped, stubbornly refusing to move, "What have you done?"

"I am going to America, Effie" Luc answered the scowling thirteen year old, "To fight." 

"What?" Effie nearly yelled, "America!"

"Did no one tell you?" Luc looked up from his feet, shock in his dark brown eyes, "The Civil War.  I am to fight."

"Why?  You are just leaving us after this!" Effie did yell this time and Luc put a hand over her mouth.

"Hear me out sweetie," He begged her, "Please."  Effie stepped back as he took his hand away from her mouth and folded her arms defiantly.

"You had better have a very good explanation for this Lucian Allington," She snarled.

"I have to fight," Luc shrugged helplessly, "By law.  Because my father is in no fit state to fight, I have to take over from him.  If I don't, my family will be dishonored, as will yours because I'm related through wedlock, well, engagement."

"You are leaving?" Effie said sadly.

"On the hour." Luc replied, motioning to the old clock which read ten minutes to one.

"Promise you will return to me." Effie started sobbing and hugged Luc tightly.

"I can guarantee nothing." He replied, returning her hug, "But I will try."

A.N!!  Hope you liked it guys!!!!!  I just wanted to say how much I enjoy writing this!!  Vote and comment please!!!