An Inconvenient Trilogy (21 page)

“You are not foolish, you both have been at a disadvantage,” Violet soothed. “I know Michael will want to explain, but I wanted to come and tell you first. I want you to be prepared when my brother returns.”

Violet explained what the conversation between the brother and sister had been. She also explained fully what Michael had seen as a child, the destruction, the accidents, the violent tempers. Violet finished the story with a sigh. “I wanted you to understand exactly why Michael would have been so against any marriage. Part of it will have been fear for himself I’m sure. He wouldn’t be human otherwise, but the main driving force was to protect you.”

Elizabeth had sat in silence while listening to Violet’s words. She was very fond of the woman sitting before her, and it upset her that Violet was clearly in pain while reliving the memories. “I am truly sorry Violet, that I sent you that letter,” she said quietly.

“Why on earth would you be sorry?” Violet asked in surprise.

“If I hadn’t asked you about your father, you wouldn’t have had to relive everything that had gone on. You lived through it once; you shouldn’t have to do it again because I couldn’t accept no from Michael. I have interfered and I should have let things alone.” Elizabeth said.

“I’m very glad you didn’t leave things alone!” Violet said with feeling. “Michael would never have raised the subject; he wanted to protect me, the foolish man. Now he knows the truth and can live the rest of his life without the worry he has had until now. He can marry and have children if he chooses, and if the woman he loves forgives his foolish blunderings.” Violet smiled at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Don’t go jumping to conclusions Violet. Michael was very clear with his rejection. Only a fool would think he cared after such an outburst.” A fool like me, she thought, but managed not to voice the words.

Violet sighed, but stood up. There was nothing more she could do; her brother had to make amends for his actions and foolish words. “I will leave you in peace. One final thing though, I didn’t mention the letter you sent. I didn’t need to and thought that it would only cause more problems than it would solve.”

*

Michael found Elizabeth in the drawing room. Smithson had informed him that Violet and Edward had gone out for a drive. Michael had suppressed a smile at the butler’s words; his sister was ever the subtle one.

Elizabeth was sat bent over some needlework. She was giving it her full concentration and had not noticed Michael at the doorway. He took a moment before declaring his entrance; he never tired of the sight of her. She was almost back to her old self, her cheeks had colour in them and her hair was back to its natural shine. He had not realised she enjoyed needlework, but then she pricked her finger and cursed loudly.

Michael laughed, “I knew you wouldn’t be a natural at needlework.” he said as he entered the room.

Elizabeth had jumped at his words, but still kept the finger in her mouth. She glared at Michael without saying anything.

“Come Elizabeth, don’t glare at me so; you can’t be perfect at everything. I’m surprised you are so mulish over such a minor insult.” Michael said, sitting next to her, forcing Elizabeth to shuffle along the seat.

“And I never thought you were full of empty flattery, it shows how we have both been wrong doesn’t it?” Elizabeth said petulantly. Violet may have explained a lot of Michael’s problems, but that did not excuse how he had hurt her.

“Touché,” Michael responded with a smile, before becoming serious. “I have a lot of explaining to do. Will you hear me?”

“Violet has told me about your father.” Elizabeth replied.

“My bloody sister!” Michael exploded. “She always appears and interferes when she is least wanted.”

“I think her appearance today was fortuitous for us both.” Elizabeth said bitterly.

“I didn’t mean what I said,” Michael responded, running his hands through his hair. “I said it to try and stem Violet’s wild ideas running away with themselves. You haven’t known her as long as I have, she has been waiting for an opportunity like today, to try and force me into marriage.”

“I don’t think she was under any illusion that marriage was the last thing on your mind. Your words were very clear,” Elizabeth said primly. She cursed inside. He still made her want him and in reality she was angry more with herself than him. She knew his words had been uttered in the heat of the moment, but they had hurt. What was annoying her now was that she wanted to be kissed by him again. She was a weak fool.

“Marriage was the last thing on my mind, but it isn’t any more. The talk I had with Violet today put my mind at rest. I know I am not at risk of going mad, no more than the next person anyway. I can finally look at life full in the face and enjoy it without the shadow hanging over me.”

Elizabeth relented a little. “I am truly happy that your mind has been put at ease. I had hoped that what you feared wasn’t as clear cut as you seemed to think.”

“No, I could hardly believe what she was telling me. I have only my foolishness to blame in not asking sooner. I should have realised that if there was madness in the family, Violet would not have risked marriage or children either,” Michael said ruefully. “I was arrogant enough to think that only I was doing the right thing.”

“I’m sure she will forgive your lack of faith in her, as I believe she is a very loving sister.” Elizabeth smiled slightly.

“I’m not sure she’ll let me forget it though,” Michael groaned. “This is not why I wanted to speak to you though. Violet’s words have major implications for us both.”

“How so?” Elizabeth asked, but her heart had begun to pound.

“This changes everything. I can look forward to a wife and children, lots of children,” Michael smiled, taking her hands in his. He absent-mindedly rubbed the finger that had been hurt.

“Lots of children?” Elizabeth asked weakly.

“Yes, lots of children. My estate is much larger than this, their mother is going to need as much help as she can get. Many hands make light work and I wouldn’t want her wearing herself out on the land, I want her full of energy in the bedroom,” Michael said.

Elizabeth flushed. “You are going to let your wife run your estate?”

“If she wants to. I would prefer to keep her in the house near me, so that I can touch her and kiss her whenever I want, but the thought of seeking her out in the fields also appeals to me. We have unfinished business in that top field.” Michael’s voice had grown husky and his eyes had gone deeper brown, but he never stopped rubbing her hands, maintaining his distance.

Elizabeth was slightly shocked at his words, but they excited her as well. The thought of being made love to outside was as appealing as it was shocking. “I think your neighbours would be scandalised,” she said, running her tongue over her suddenly dry lips.

“It’s a very large estate. No one will see,” Michael responded. “And my staff will learn to be very discreet.” He took her injured finger into his mouth and sucked gently on it. The sharp intake of breath from Elizabeth made him smile. “I want you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth almost fell into Michael, his words and actions left her almost unable to sit upright. “Are you sure about this?” Self doubt after all their ups and downs was natural for her. She had come to doubt her own thoughts.

“I have been sure that I wanted you from the first moment I saw you bound into my house. When I didn’t even know if you had hair I wanted you. When I saw your curves heightened by those breeches you wear I wanted you. Every time you looked at me with those eyes, seeking me out to share the joke, or to rescue you from some bore, I wanted you. When I knew that I could kill if someone had hurt you I wanted you. Until my last breath I will want you, now will you please marry me?” Michael finished. He stood and pulled Elizabeth against his chest. He had intended letting her speak, but the urge to kiss her had been too great.

Elizabeth could have wept with Michael’s words, they were so touching, igniting every hope, every desire that she had tried to suppress. She leaned into his kiss, enjoying his touch. She never wanted the moment to end, but something niggled at the back of her mind. She tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t go away. It would not go away until she was honest with Michael. She reluctantly pulled away.

“Say yes.” Michael whispered, moving in to kiss her again.

“I have to say something else first.” Elizabeth said, placing her hand flat on his chest in an attempt to stop his kisses.

“Surely it can’t be as important as this?” Michael tried to persuade her, kissing along her jawline to try and persuade her into submission.

“I haven’t been honest with you.” Elizabeth said quietly.

That got Michael’s attention. He pulled away slightly, holding Elizabeth at arms’ length. “What do you mean? What have you not been honest about?”

Elizabeth took a breath. She could be about to ruin the only chance she had of happiness with Michael, but she could not keep anything from him. “I wrote to Violet asking her about your father. My letter brought her here, I didn’t expect it to, I thought she would just write back, but it was my letter that brought her here.”

“Why did you do that?” Michael asked. His voice gave nothing away, although his posture had stiffened.

“It was after you were honest with me about why we could never be together,” Elizabeth was not babbling, but she was talking fast. She usually could interpret Michael’s expression, but she could not at the moment and it frightened her to think she could be losing him all over again. “I suppose I was being selfish. I wanted to seek the opinion of every doctor in the country to try and find a solution, a cure, but I couldn’t do that with the little information you had. I thought Violet may know more and although I knew it would inflict some pain, I thought it was important enough to contact her.”

“Behind my back?” Michael asked.

“I didn’t want to, but I knew you would never agree to speak to Violet, or you would have already had the conversation.  I just needed to know what illness it was.” Elizabeth said quietly. She sounded selfish to her own ears; goodness knew what it sounded like to Michael who had wanted to avoid speaking to his sister about the madness.

“So, you hadn’t believed what I said about not marrying you, about not wanting to put you through that life?” Michael asked frowning.

“I did believe you. I know you well enough to know how stubborn you are,” this received raised eye brows from Michael, but Elizabeth carried on. “I just hated how you had taken my choice away from me. When I was in that room with George all I could think of was that if I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want to live. If he had ruined me that day I would have killed myself somehow. I’m not saying that for dramatic effect, I truly mean it. I had enough time to think about the consequences on that journey, and believe me, without you in my world, life would have been too empty. If he had ruined me, I could never have faced you again.”

“Don’t think about that day.” Michael said quietly.

“I have to, because it was the day that made me realise just how much you meant to me. I knew that I loved you by that point, but I didn’t realise how much until then. So, when you said you cared for me too, I needed to know exactly what we were going to be facing in the future!” Elizabeth said earnestly.

“What
we
were going to face?” Michael said raising his eyebrow.

“Yes, you could push me away, refuse to have a relationship with me, but I was somehow going to find you when you needed me. If and when the madness took hold. I was going to care for you and love you until your dying day, because that is how much you mean to me.” Elizabeth finished; feeling drained all of a sudden.

“So, you wrote to Violet?” Michael asked again.

“Yes, I’m sorry I interfered.” Elizabeth said sadly. It looked like she had lost him.

“Thank you.” Michael whispered.

“What?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.

“Thank you. I would never have known. For however long I have left to live I can live it in peace, knowing that your stubbornness saved me from a life of misery. I want you by my side, preventing me acting so stupidly ever again; will you marry me, my darling Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth choked back a sob, before saying a quiet, but firm “Yes.”

Michael wrapped her in his arms once more and kissed her as if he was never going to stop.  Elizabeth clung onto him, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him towards her, not that he needed any encouragement.

They were disturbed by a slight cough at the door, which increased its volume when they ignored it the first time. They pulled their faces apart, resting their cheeks against each other. Violet and Edward were stood in the doorway. Edward had been the one forcing the coughs, to try to politely interrupt.

Violet looked doubtfully at her brother. “Michael?” She asked, not taking anything for granted after the greeting they had received earlier.

Michael smiled at his sister, for once looking like the cheeky young man that he was and could be in the future. “Violet, Edward, I’m glad you’re here. Elizabeth has compromised me. I think we need a special licence, in order to marry quickly. The sooner the better, before I’m completely ruined.”

The End

An Inconvenient Wife

Audrey Harrison