The Ruby in the Storm

Chapter 31: Her Battle, Her Armor

Chapter 31: Her Battle, Her Armor

"I hope that encounter helped you," Edward said as he and Leila sat in the carriage headed back to Roseway.

Leila looked at him. "It did. I still feel the craving for the drug, but with the answers Dr. Stephenson gave, I feel as though I have my memory back. It will make it easier to heal from this."

"I think it best to write your husband, my nephew," Edward offered. "Now that this is all over, we can start fixing whatever mess it has made... I didn't mean it like that," he sighed. "I am not trying to undermine your illness, Leila..."

"Do what you have to, I will write Sam," she said. "It's like you said, I am Lady Worthington. I have to start acting like her sooner rather than later. I will tell him to come home as soon as he can, and that I am ready to embrace this new role."

With that, she looked back out the window and watched the docks go by with a melancholy expression.

XXX

Charlestown, South Carolina

Beatrice returned to her uncle's home after the day was done, and allowed the servants to help her out of her shawl. Her aunt would be in the drawing room or the library, taking her afternoon tea most likely. Beatrice did not usually join her but today she would. She only had a handful of days in Charlestown after all.

Despite her uncle constantly pressuring her to spend more time with the boring, dry yet devastatingly rich Stephen Franklin, she couldn't help but constantly think about John Brandon Quincy. He was the sort of man Beatrice wished she could be with. Though they hardly spent much time together, she knew him to be a very kind man, and clearly hard working. He was by no means of the sort of wealth that would inspire Beatrice to marry him—also taking into regard the fact that he was, in fact, already married—but he was still the sort of man she could see herself with.

Thing was, since he was a man of overwhelmingly good character, that meant that he would probably never let his gaze stray from his wife. Beatrice had hoped that she would at least inspire him into realizing that there were other women out there, and that men of carnal passions should indulge now and again. She wouldn't have minded if he did... Especially if he did with her.

"Beatrice, is that you?"

Beatrice snapped back to reality when she heard her aunt call her name from the direction of the garden library. "Yes, Aunt Ingrid."

Quickly, she strode towards the curtain that stood as the entrance to the library which once used to be a greenhouse. Now, it was still in the similar glass-dome structure but, instead of plants, small shelves were built to hosue the books. Aunt Ingrid lined the tops of the shelves with various in-season flowers and plants still. Since it was winter, it smelled of pine but, during the spring, a more floral scent would have been prevalent. Aunt Ingrid loved her books, and Lockwood was known for its vast collection which Uncle Fitzgerald took his own time to put together just for his wife.

"Would you like some tea, darling?" Aunt Ingrid asked. "It's quite chilly outside, isn't it? The snow is just starting to fall... I would have taken tea in another library with a fireplace, but the sight is so... Magnificent."

Beatrice shrugged and sat down. "I suppose it is. And yes, that is. To the tea."

Aunt Ingrid signaled for the maid to pour Beatrice some tea and then shut her book. "I meant to write to your mother today. I received a letter from her asking how you were and if you were ready to leave. Are you? Or you wish to stay longer?"

Beatrice sighed. "It appears that there will be no sense in leaving if Uncle Fitz has his way and I marry Mr. Franklin."

"You've spent a great deal of time with the man," Aunt Ingrid mused. "I agree he is rather old for you. But he is well off and you would be provided for. And from what your mother tells me, you've been rather picky with society in London; perhaps it is more than time for you to settle with a husband."