*Edited*
Tears streamed down Grace's cheeks as she pulled herself onto Inira's saddle, John's words echoing in her mind as she replayed the moment John lifted his hand; ready to strike her. Images flashed through her mind of James at that very moment, causing her to lose the courage she managed to muster. Grace pulled up the hood of her cloak as Inira spurred out of the stables.
" My Lady! Tis' not safe out there!" The stable hand called as she rode off. What started of as a wonderful day had quickly turned and the high heavens had been released in a down pour. She burst through the gravel path way and quickly down into the town in a fierce gallop, the drenched mud splashing like water under the beating hooves. Grace had no idea where she was going, just that John no longer wanted to see her. Only a week of marriage and he was already disgusted by her. The rain continued to beat against her as she burst out of the town and into the forest; where the rain drops where larger and more painful as they hit against her.
The trees sped by as she urged Inira on faster and faster, wanting to create as much distance from John as she could in no general direction other than the manor being directly behind her. Grace let out sob after sob of hurt and the betrayal she had put upon John. Why had she been so stupid as to lie about something so serious? Her vision was blinded by her hysteria and tears before she had the chance to react at the thick branch speeding towards her.
When she made connection to the thick overhanging branch everything changed to black for a moment; before opening her eyes to find herself laying on the forest floor facing with the crying skies above. She turned her head to her left to see Inira galloping away from her, the rain pounding down lashing out its punishment for her sins. As she took in a breath, an stabbing pain flashed through her from right side; this was no doubt a few broken rib from the impact to the branch. The back of her head pounding from landing on the ground from such a height and speed which her hit it. Grace could slowly feel herself loosing grip on consciousness as she watched Inira run off with her only chance of hope.
" I love you and I am sorry." She whimpered fearfully as she closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness, her wet red hair panned out around her onto the forest floor and parts of her hood, her clothes drenched and freezing.
Meanwhile, back at the manor John sat in his study. His head hung in his hands as he sat on one of the armchairs next to the warm burning fire. The skies had darkened considerably with rain clouds as water pounding down upon the windows to the room. A bottle of whisky sat upon the table in front of him, he had already drank at least three quarters of the bottle, leaving only a quarter left.
" John. Where is Grace?" Beth asked as she walked into the large study to see her brother with his fingers entwined through his messy black hair.
" Gone, I told her to go." John whispered in a hurt voice, not lifting his head from his gaze to the ground. Beth sighed and closed the door; before walking over and sitting in the armchair directly across from his.
"John." She whispered with no answer. She reached over and took his left hand out of his hand, holding it tightly in her hand. She moved her left hand under his chin.
" Brother, look at me." She told him as she lifted his head up to look at her. His cheeks glistened in the orange light from the fire as the tears continued to rolled down with gravity's pull.
" She lied to me." His voice crack as Beth slipped off the chair and onto her knees in front of him.
" Believe me, she took no pleasure in it." Beth told him as she wiped away his tears.
" You knew, you lied to me as well?" He asked hurt by Beth's words. She had also known what Grace was doing but John had never asked her anything about Grace's whereabouts.
" I never lied to you as you never asked me." Beth told him as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his face and stood to his feet.
" You and Grace, the two woman I love most. You both lied to me." He spoke feeling his heart break over again; he walked over to the rain soaked window. Beth stood up and walked over to him.
" I will ask you what you asked Grace." Beth said looking at him as he looked out the water covered window.
" Will you promise me not to continue your work." Beth asked him as he turned his head to her.
" You know I cannot." He told her as his body followed his head to face his younger sister.
" Why not?" She asked him.
" Because there are people who need me to survive..." He spoke and looked to the ground as realisation dawn over him.
" So you see now, John. Grace leaving her work is not as easy as you lead yourself to believe." Beth told her brother as he closed his eyes, disgusted with himself that he had not realised this earlier and now she was gone.
" John you must go after her." Both told her brother placing a hand on his right upper arm. John looked to her and then back out the window.
" She is long gone now." John whispered as soon as he was finished Beth took his face and pulled him to look at her again.
" She is your wife, brother. It may not be for me to intervene but you know fully what happens when two people are married. They share the same bed in many occasions. They show their love for one another through actions, giving themselves completely to each other in a show of complete trust." She told him. "And what do you think is created during these intimate times?" She asked him in a gentle soft voice and small smile.
" You do not think?" John said with wide eyes at the though she was implying.
" Not everyone is as barren as I am, John. Remember that." She whispered with a saddened look upon her face.
" You must find her John. She needs you." Beth said stepping away and walked back to the door. She stops at the table and placed a hand on the crystal bottle with the whisky inside it.
" And you need her more than you realise brother. She is good for you, that I can see. And maybe if she is with child, they could be the blessing in which your life needs." Was Beth's last words before she walked and exited the room, leaving John to his thoughts of Grace. John's eyes trailed to the window.
" A child." John whispered as he placed his hand onto the ice cold compressed sand which was being battered by the water.
" My child." He whispered with a smile.
" Our child." He spoke finally and turned around rushing towards the door of his office.
YOU ARE READING
Red Haired Beauty (wattys2016)
Ficțiune istorică" You would refuse something that you cannot afford and was graciously bought for you?" The man asked clearly annoyed at her refusal of his kindness. " I may not have money to afford such delicacies but I am not a charity case, nor will I accept thi...
