The Ruby in the Storm

Chapter 23: Safer Shores

Chapter 23: Safer Shores

Lucy watched quietly while Charlotte tucked into her food in a most unladylike way, making her wonder how long and hard the woman must have traveled to find her. Lucy had not given Charlotte much thought, even while with Ross on Belmoran. She knew Ross loved her so she was never intimidated by the memory of a past love. But now that she looked at Charlotte and saw how beautiful and quite outspoken she was, Lucy did feel a slight pang of jealousy. And, oddly, she was still quite comfortable around the woman, as though they were old friends.

"Apologies if my manners aren't up to snuff," Charlotte said, taking a large gulp of water. "I haven't had a decent meal like this in quite some time."

"It's quite alright," Lucy assured her. "I fancy myself to be the same way. During fancy dinners, I have to fight to hold back the urge to devour my plate and the plates of the people around me! All the small, nonsensical talks that you have to sit through while taking small, dainty bites of food, it's quite torturous."

Charlotte laughed. "God, I remember growing up in Belmoran with my mother. My father died when I was very young, you see, so it was just her and I. The way she tried to school me in the finer points of societal decorum..." She shook her head. "Well, suffice to say, I took none of it with me to Clayton Island."

Lucy studied the woman. "If you do not mind my asking... Why did you leave Belmoran in the first place?"

Charlotte laughed. "No, I do not mind you asking at all. I've told many people in so many ways, as a way to cope. I do not know what Ross or his mother told you about me..."

"He only said that you left and broke his heart, his mother said the same."

"Well that's half the story," Charlotte replied. "I did leave, but not because I did not love Ross. I did not even leave because I loved him; I suppose I left because I was a coward. I could never be right in his mother's eyes, no matter what I did. The woman loved her son more than anything, and I was convinced no one would be right for her precious son. So I left. I broke it off with Ross, found the first suitable man leaving Belmoran, and I left with him. I figured that sacrificing who I was for a woman who would never be impressed wasn't worth it..." She toyed with the strings of her dress. "Well I married the man, we had a wonderful few years before he died. He was sickly from the start, so I was expecting it. He left me his home on Clayton Island and that was where I stayed until Ross arrived, begging for shelter."

"And you gave it to him."

Charlotte nodded, even though that wasn't a question. "For a year he did not tell me what happened, and I stopped asking after a while. But then one day he decided to leave and come to the main land, and I opted to go with him. I do not know what spell you put on Ross and his mother, but know he would not have gone to such lengths for me. To murder a man? To throw his life away?" She must have seen the dismayed look on Lucy's face because she suddenly looked horrified. "I do not mean... Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Lucy said. "I sometimes wonder myself why he did it. Why did he shoot James? Why did he not just throw him off of me... I do not want to be angry with him, he saved my life! But in doing so he threw his away, and now we're apart."

"Ross is a rational man, but often the most rational of men are hiding within them the desire to do something irrational," Charlotte replied. "It takes time to trigger, but when it happens, it can be quite catastrophic, and it often involves a harm done to someone they love, like you."

Lucy sighed. "I suppose you're right."

"Ross loves you, Lucy. Every day he would leave my house and stand on the shore, staring out to the horizon. I knew that that was the only time he was at peace. He stood on the shore, waiting for you, and he never missed a day."