What Happens By Candlelight

Chapter Thirty-Three: Gone

I stared at the parchment in my hands in confusion. 

The morning rays warmed me as I stood barefoot in front of my door. I had woken up far later than I had planned, only to find a folded paper a foot away from my door. Had I not almost crushed it underneath my feet, I wouldn't have noticed it.

I could easily recognize my brother's handwriting, yet it didn't have anything close to what I had expected on there.

Love-

  An ardent feeling of deep fondness, warmth, and devotion

  A strong interest and great pleasure in someone

A deep romantic feeling

Strong feelings which may include trust, the want to become better, and affection

Do the right thing.

-Thomas and Edward

I glared at the paper before I finally noticed it- the silence. It was quiet, stunningly quiet. I couldn't hear the distant shouts of the camp or the hustle and bustle of the workers as they cared for all of the manor's inhabitants. I couldn't hear the footfalls of men in boots as they made their way to their offices.

I threw on the nearest dress before rushing out of my room, not caring if my hair was loose. The hallways were unthinkably bare of people. By the time I arrived in the parlor, all three of the siblings were up and doing something to take up their attention.

I hurriedly passed all of them and stared out the window. 

Where tents were once set up was now bare grass. Where men would sit around and train was now trampled dirt. All of it was gone. Empty. Absent. Missing. What had been my life for several months was now nothing more than a distant memory.

"Miss Christina?" Sabrina called out after several minutes of me staring out of the window. "Are you quite alright?"

I finally tore my gaze back to her, feeling like the world had come crashing around me. "When-when did they leave?"

"This morning, just over an hour ago. Are you feeling well? Perhaps you should sit down." I guided myself to a chair, ignoring the faces of the trio.

"I'm sorry, I feel a little out of it today." I lifted a hand to my forehead, rubbing my temples. 

Silence followed for a few moments before Madeline let out a chuckle. "Look who's finally regretting her choices."

"Madeline! You shouldn't-"

"Shouldn't what Sabrina? Point out the truth? Look at her face, she's an open book," the two stared at me openly, while Timothy turned his head to and fro in aggravation. 

"Will you all stop? I don't feel like listening to any more of your problems." With a glare, Madeline called for one of the maids to take him elsewhere. While he was unhappy to be separated from everyone, Timothy left with little complaint.

"So, how does it feel to be the most talked-about scandal in all of South Carolina?" Scandal? What happened to create a scandal? Rejected marriage offers were too common for such a thing, and the rumors were nothing new. "Everyone knows you had a dalliance while you were still with the Lieutenant Colonel, which is why you denied his offer."

Dalliance? Do they think I had an affair? What on earth!

"Corporal Nottingham saw you talking with someone in the garden, not once, but twice. Which also explains why you rejected him. Poor Gabriel," Madeline pouted, oblivious to the annoyed look on her sister's face. "To think he would have been stuck with a woman like you. No morals, no-"

"You mean like your mother," I stood up, finally fed up with everything and finding my voice. "Is that why you've been so cruel to me? Because I remind you of her? Well, I can honestly tell you that the Corporal is gravely mistaken. What he saw isn't what he thought."

The two sisters seemed to shrink into their seats from my dominant position. 

"Oh, that's not all," Madeline tried to put on a brave face as she spoke. "He tried to convince Father that you're a spy, but father sent him away. As we speak, Corporal Nottingham is trying to find a way to prove your guilt."

My face paled at the possibility of his success. Then came the thought of him finding my brothers instead of me. 

My breathing became uneven as all the horrible thoughts came back to me. Them dying, hanging, all because I hadn't been careful enough to cover my tracks.

"I-I have to go," I rushed over to the door, throwing it open to find Ruth on the other side, preparing to knock. "Can you get me a horse? I need a horse."

The woman nodded and rushed off without complaint. I wasn't far behind her, brushing my hair back with my fingers, trying to get it in decent shape. It wouldn't work, but it would help get my mind off of more pressing matters.

"Where do you think you're going?" Madeline grabbed my arm, forcing me to face her. "You can't just up and leave after I accused you of espionage!"

I snatched my arm back, glaring at her with all the hate in my soul. "I can and will! Not only am I in danger, but my brothers. I can't sit back and watch them get hurt because of me, so I suggest that you let me go!"

Even as I stepped forward, she matched my pace. We turned another corner before she spoke up once more. "You won't see Gabriel, will you? You'll leave him out of this?"

I paused, momentarily taken aback. I forget how much she actually cares for the man at times. "I make no promises."

I left her in the dust as I continued rushing outside, where the stable boy was just now bringing up the horse. "Here he is ma'am, would you like an escort?"

"Which way did the battalion go?" The young lad pointed behind him, confused by the sudden change in topic. "Thank you." 

I swung onto my horse the next second, spurring the creature into action with a flick of my wrists. The galloping horse had a long run ahead of him in order for me to catch up with the others.

I didn't even have a plan. 

What would I do? Turn myself in? Explain to the Corporal why he was wrong - even though he wasn't? Somehow warn my brothers without letting on my own wrongdoings? What would I do if I saw Gabriel? Has he heard the rumors about me? Surely he doesn't believe them!

What would I do if the Corporal did have evidence? Runoff? Quietly accept my fate?

I pushed my horse faster, not caring if I didn't have a plan yet. I had to get there and do something.

How is it that in one day, my world has completely changed?