DEADLY REVENGE

Chapter Four

The following morning came just too soon for Elizabeth. She tossed and turned all night long. Images of that poor young man on fire, screaming out in agony kept her waking up every hour or so. A few times she actually screamed out in horror, scaring Nicholas to death thinking there was something wrong with the child she was carrying. He would just comfort her the best he could and then she would be able to fall back to sleep for a little while but then the images came back into her dreams or nightmares as it was in this case and she would wake up screaming again.   

Nicholas woke up right at dawn and carefully climbed out of bed not to wake Elizabeth. She had a terrible night last night he thought to himself. He himself kept seeing his friend burning to death. God what a nightmare. He dressed himself and headed downstairs. Once he entered the entrance hall his footman came up to him carrying a paper. He took it and looked at it. Sure enough word had spread wildly through London. Every household was delivered a message describing in every horrible detail of what happened last night. The funeral for his friend was set for tomorrow at noon at the local church. It was going to be a closed casket viewing. "Ya think?" he said out loud to himself. "Did they even have to point that out?" He just shook his head as he walked into the dining room and sat down. Instantly the cook came out and asked him if he was ready to eat yet and was his misses coming down?

"Yes, I'm ready to eat but I think Elizabeth may not feel up to eating quite yet."

"Very good, sir. I'll go fetch it for you right away." She said as she sped back into the kitchen. When she returned she set his plate down in front of him. "It's bloody awful what happened in town last night." She said. "Isn't that where you and your wife went last night?"

"Yes. As a matter-of-fact, it was."

"Oh that had to be a terrible accident. The poor young man. Did you know him?

"Again, yes. We were school mates."

"Well I'm real sorry about your friend, your lordship." She said and then headed back into the kitchen leaving Nicholas alone to eat his breakfast.

***

Elizabeth finally pulled herself out of bed. It was afternoon already and she was afraid Nicholas would be mad at her for staying in bed for so long. She dressed and went downstairs to find him. He heard her come down the steps and met her in the hallway. "Did you get any rest last night?" He asked with concern in his voice.

"Not as much as I would have liked. I kept seeing that poor young man in such agony. I can't even imagine how much he suffered."

"Now, my dear, we can't keep re-living this over and over again. It was a freak accident. The funeral is set for tomorrow."

"Okay. Has there been any word from Nadia yet?" She asked, now trying to concentrate on something else.

"No, nothing yet."

"I would like to go out and see her today. It will help get that terrible scene out of my head."

"Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Yes. If we don't go than I'll sit around here all day thinking about that young man."

"I see your point. Why don't you grab a bite to eat and then we'll go."

"Thank you Nicholas. You are so kind to me." She said as she headed in the direction of the kitchen.

"Thank you Nicholas. You are so kind to me." She said as she headed in the direction of the kitchen. She really didn't feel like eating anything but she knew she needed to for the baby's sake.