Elizabeth was not going to let her husband’s death stop her from enjoying her life with Maxwell. Nathaniel died with peace of mind and that was as much as she could ask for.
It was a Wednesday morning, two weeks after Nathaniel had died and she was out walking Damien in his pram. Nathaniel’s parents had returned to their home and so had hers. The weather was rotten—the sky a thunderous deep gray with even darker tumbles of clouds. Across the horizon she could see the olive-colored hills and vast fields preparing themselves for the downpour that was sure to come.
Elizabeth walked on, unafraid of the weather. The dampness in the air was clearing her head and though chilly to her revealed chest, the coldness left her feeling strangely refreshed. Damien refused to sleep however seemed very peaceful amusing himself with his small wooden toy. He was getting so big, she thought fondly.
She reached the town and welcomed the new atmosphere of cobblestone grounds and brick shops. She strolled practically alone down the pathway, staring into the glass windows and assessing the newest fashions. The occasional person stopped to inquire after her and Damien then offer their respect at how well she was doing after her loss. She thanked them and continued on.
Birkbeck Park seemed so empty now that Nathaniel was no longer there. Sometimes Elizabeth simply strolled around the halls, through all the rooms, expecting to find him somewhere. It was such a large house, she only now realized. Nathaniel seemed to have taken up so much space; sometimes so much that Elizabeth had felt claustrophobic. Like he was surrounding her, suffocating her. Now he was acutely gone and she was achingly alone.
Days kept going by without word from Maxwell. She knew he had been waiting for her to approach him, being patient until she recovered and was ready for him. The thing was, she had given him word, three days before but he had not replied. This worried her only slightly, there would be a good reason for his absence.
She could not stay in this town after they married. They could move anywhere, for all she cared, just as long as they did not stay here.
There were little specks of water sporadically falling on her cheeks and nose now. She ignored them and continued walking, not even realizing her destination until she got there.
When Elizabeth lifted her head she found she was standing in front of the largest building in the village. It was the law firm where Nathaniel had worked, where Maxwell still worked. Next door was the men’s club and that’s where most of the working were resided at the moment, for it was lunch time and any instance when they could have a gin and tonic and a cigar was a good time. She could see them through the windows and hear them talking loudly. The fires were blazing and there was not a woman in sight, they were not allowed in the haven.
She stood there, getting wetter by the second until someone noticed her and came out the front door. “Why Ms Samson!” It was Dr. Maynard Hobson. He had been always been a good friend of hers. “Pray, what on earth has entered your head? It is raining dearest! You shall catch a frightful cold! Come with me.” A group of men watched from the doorway as Maynard led her into the law offices. When they saw she was alright they all went back inside quickly to resume their drinking.
Maxwell was in the men’s club by the fire talking with Andrew Clarke about the case they were working on. Two men walked past and his ears perked up. “She must be crazy, now that Nathaniel has past away. Poor girl—”
“I beg you pardon,” he said. “What are you talking about?”
“Ms Elizabeth Samson was standing out in the rain, foolish woman! Maynard rushed out there to get her under shelter,” one of them replied.
Maxwell stood up from his chair, trying to stay calm. “Where did he take her?”
“Next door.”
“Where are you going?” Andrew asked. “Do not be concerned, Maynard will keep her—”
“You will excuse me,” Maxwell interrupted him. “We will finish our discussion later?” He hurried next door and walked through the lobby. Elizabeth was sitting on one of the leather seats by the large fireplace with Maynard standing in front of her, offering her tea. The chandeliers were bright but the floors were marble so naturally it was not the warmest place to be.
“I apologize,” he heard her saying. “I mustn’t have been thinking properly. I hate to be a nuisance.”
“No, never,” Maynard said. “My wife has been asking after you, she was unable to make it to the funeral and keeps meaning to ask you over for dinner.”
“How kind of her, tell her I would be delighted.”
That’s when he chose to interrupt. “Is everything alright?”
Elizabeth felt her heart jump when she heard him. She did not need to see him to know who it was.
“Maxwell,” Maynard said. “Ms Elizabeth here just got a little wet from the rain.” Damien had fallen asleep finally in his pram.
Maxwell’s eyes were boring into hers. “What on earth were you doing out walking on a foul day like this one, Elizabeth?”
“I believe I was clearing my head,” she answered simply.
“More like dampening it!” Maynard chuckled, as if it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
“I would be glad to keep her company, if you would like to get back to your drink?” Maxwell offered to Maynard. He looked so beautiful, Elizabeth thought fondly. His strong build and broad shoulders always succeeded in making her feel warm inside. She would never be cold again as long as he was around.
“You will make sure she gets home?” Maynard asked.
Maxwell answered, “Indeed.”
“How very kind of you, take care Elizabeth. My wife will be in touch.” He left rather quickly, Elizabeth thought amusedly. Maxwell came close to her and squatted down so his eyes were level with hers.
“Dear, what possessed you to endanger your health and Damien’s in this way?” he was exceptionally serious. “You will become unwell, and then what would we do with you? The baby?” His voice was so soft she thought she would die from loving him so much. “How is my son?” he stood up again and pulled Damien out of his pram, causing him to wake. “He is becoming quite large.”
“He is the splitting image of his father,” Elizabeth told him softly.
Damien started to cry and Maxwell patted him on the back gently. “Come now, there is no need for that. How was your slumber, little one? Well I suppose that name isn’t appropriate anymore, you are indeed more akin to a big one.”
“I suppose he is hungry,” Elizabeth said.
“We must do something about that then,” Maxwell fixed his son’s jacket tighter around him. “Are you cold, Damien?”
There were not many people around but the occasional person carrying papers glanced at them twice as they went about their own thing. Not caring, Elizabeth requested Maxwell put Damien down and focus his attention on her for just another moment. He did as was told and squatted in front of her once more. She took his hands and wrapped hers around them on her lap. Her eyes could not leave his.
“Did you come here to see me?” he asked just as gently.
She swallowed. Could she find her voice? “I think I may have.”
“Why did you not just write me?” he asked, caressing her fingers. “I would have come instantly.”
Her face crinkled in disbelief. “I did write you! Three days previously.”
His voice even, he replied, “I did not receive word from you.”
Elizabeth could not continue sitting upright another second if she did not feel his mouth on hers. “Kiss me,” she begged in a whisper.
Maxwell was surprised because he glanced around briefly and saw that everyone was watching them. “There are—”
“I do not begin to care,” she smiled brightly.
He leaned forward and pressed his soft lips to hers for a moment. Her stomach did flip flops until he pulled back and said, “Tessa.”
“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth frowned. “Tessa?”
He lifted one of his hands out of her grasp and stroked her face. “It must have been Tessa who received the letter. She must have it.”
Making the decision for the both of them, Elizabeth said, “We must leave, Maxwell.”
“You are ready?” he asked caringly.
“Very much so.”
“Now?”
“Now,” she said surely.
~*~
They decided to eat first. Maxwell suggested they go to her residence but Elizabeth could not imagine Maxwell sitting at Nathaniel’s place at their table. It would certainly make Nathaniel roll over in his grave. They went to a restaurant.
Elizabeth watched as Maxwell focused his attention on Damien throughout the meal. She had a little smile on her face; it was so nice to see the incredible devotion in Maxwell’s eyes when he stared at his son. She wondered if he looked at her that way.
He was worried that she would become distressed if acquaintances saw them out and about together. She quickly eased his concerns, she was beyond caring. All she wanted was to be with him, and as she saw it, she had waited long enough.
Maxwell didn’t think it would be a good idea for Elizabeth to come back to Austen Park with him. Tessa would be there and he wanted to leave as quietly as possible. “I would hate for her to start a quarrel with you,” he explained. “It would be best if I were to simply collect a few things and leave. You agree?”
“Indeed,” Liz said. “I will gather my things while you are gone.”
They had a plan. Maxwell had already set up a residence in London the month before, just as he had told her he would. It had been waiting for them fully furnished with staff maintaining it daily.
“Or perhaps you would prefer to stay with the Guerin’s for the remainder of the week?” Maxwell stroked her hand in the carriage. Cupped in his muscular arm was Damien, playing quietly.
“No,” Elizabeth answered. “I want to go straight home.”
“Home,” Max repeated and then said nothing else.
When Elizabeth entered Birkbeck Park she called all the staff into the office and announced that she would be moving to London. They weren’t shocked; she had spoken of it before to Rochelle who had, of course, told them. The maids all followed Elizabeth to her chamber to help her pack, offering their personal opinions on what they thought were her best gowns, shoes, hats and more. Abigail tended to Damien.
“I believe it would best if I did not take quite so much,” Elizabeth said. “I will send for the rest.”
Amanda prepared some tea that she drank in the room over-looking the drive way. She wanted to know as soon as Maxwell arrived. He was taking quite a while, she was worried.
When he finally arrived the maids showed the drivers where to find her things that needed to be loaded onto the carriage. As soon as Elizabeth greeted Maxwell she saw something was the matter. “Oh dear,” she came to him speedily. “What ever is wrong?”
Maxwell forced a smile. “Nothing is wrong. We are leaving, I am happy.”
She tilted her head to the side and studied his face. “I believe you are being untruthful.”
“No,” he said. “I just had an unpleasant encounter with Tessa, that is all.”
Elizabeth took his hands and led him to the divan so they could sit down. “Tell me about it, please?”
“This one too,” Maxwell handed his dark stone jacket to his butler to be packed.
“Yes sir.”
The door suddenly creaked open. “What are you doing?” Tessa asked. Her voice was distressed.
“You are not dim-witted, Tessa. I believe you recognize what I am doing.” Maxwell went about pulling garments out of the closet for his butler, not bothering to look at his wife.
“You cannot leave,” she cried loudly, rushing across the room to him. “I am your wife, you cannot leave me!”
She put her hands on his arm and he snatched it away.
“You are not my wife,” he said.
She recoiled, hurt and started to sob openly. “All I ever wanted was your love. My entire life I sought after you. How can you be so selfish?”
“I am selfish?” Maxwell spat. “How dare you.”
Tessa cried into her hands. “Why can you not love me?”
Maxwell was not a mean or uncaring man but Tessa did not deserve his forgiveness and he was not about to give it. “You will have good revenue, you will live here contently. Do not worry.”
“Live here?” she yelled. “I would do no such thing! I will be eternally humiliated!”
“That is your dilemma,” Maxwell assured her. “I will not feel remorse for you.”
“You are a cold, insufferable man,” she said. “How misjudged I have been.”
“Clearly you have,” Maxwell shot one more, long hard mean look at her. “If you would please leave the room. I have numerous things to do.”
Tessa went to slap him but he caught her wrist in mid air. “I can take a great deal more from you, Tessa,” he said darkly. “Do not tease my temper.”
She stepped back and wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. “I know where you are going,” she said. “Do not begin to believe you will excuse all of this so easily.”
“Nothing about this has been easy,” Maxwell simply said and dismissed her from the room again, this time getting his butler to direct her out.
“Oh dear,” Elizabeth commented. “How horrible for you.”
“Indeed, but it is over,” he said. “Are you prepared to go?”
She nodded. “Will you give me a few moments? I have to do something and I will join you.”
He caressed her cheek. “Take all the time you need.”
!Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Have an awesome time! I'll try and post the epilogue as soon as possible!