Ella's eyes had just begun to grow heavy when a light knock at the door chased the drowsiness away. "Come in."
The door slowly cracked open and James hesitantly entered. He stood firm a few feet from the bed and as Ella took him in, she could see that he looked as she currently felt. Dark circles shadowed beneath his eyes, which appeared as if they had not closed in sometime. His posture managed to be tense yet tired as he looked at her with a mournful expression. His hair appeared as if he had raked his fingers though it a hundred times in the last week.
"You look terrible." Ella said with a small smile.
James let out a relieved laugh while running his hand through his hair as if to hopefully straighten it. "I apologize if my appearance does not please you."
"I think I am hardly one to complain at the point."
"I do not believe you are capable of being anything but pleasing to my eyes."
Ella shook her head to fight the swell of tears threatening to overcome her. When she looked back over to James, Ella saw him watching her cautiously, shifting uncomfortably in his spot as if he regretted his words. Ella reached out her hand to him and James breathed an audible sigh of relief as he approached her.
"I feel the need to apologize for.."
"Being a jealous fool?"
He winced at her words before visibly relaxing as he took Ella's hand in his. "I suppose that is a start."
"A start? So there is more?"
"Perhaps one or two other things."
Ella forced a smile at his obvious attempt to humor her, but he quickly noticed. "What is it?"
"I should be the one to apologize. If I had not run off none of this would have happened."
"I may not like the fact that you decided to leave as your first thought, but you could not have known you would fall ill."
With that Ella began to cry in earnest. James wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug, smoothing her hair in light strokes. The gesture was enough to undo her and Ella ranted about how stupid she was not caring about her own health, not eating or sleeping properly, not knowing something was wrong. All the while he held her, hushing to claim her down. Eventually Ella let out how her selfishness cost her the child.... His child. She felt as he tensed around her, snapping her out of the crippling emotions that engulfed her. Pushing him away, she took note of the far off look in his eyes.
"I understand if you do not wish to see me after this. I just thought you deserved to know."
James rose from the bed and walked to the window looking out into the darkness beyond. "Why did no one tell me before?"
"After I told them why I left they were not sure why you arrived without noticed. If it means anything I believe they should have told you."
James leaned against the wall and dropped his head in defeat. "I should let you rest."
"James." Ella softly said his name.
He looked at her and she could see the sadness in his eyes being eerily lit by the candlelight. He headed to the door, stopping just before opening it. "I did not come here to force you to come home, if that is what you believe. I came here just to be with you." He stepped out of the room as new tears began to flow from Ella's eyes.
******
A few days had passed since Ella awoken from the fever induced sleep. The doctor had insisted she remain in bed for the remainder of the week while she recovered her strength. Most of the time Ella spent idly chatting with her mother and Becca, although a few local townspeople had briefly visited to wish her good health.
James had stayed at Knighton, spending the last few days walking the grounds with Mr. Hunter. Ella could only imagine the conversations shared between them. He had joined Ella in her room for dinner each evening, and much like their first meals together, they took these in relative silence. In the midst of her fourth day of bedrest Ella finally resolved to herself that she could no longer take the sight of the four walls around her.
"Jane, could you be so kind as to pick a dress for me to wear. I would like to take supper in the dining room this evening."
"But My Lady the doctor insisted you remain in bed until you regain your strength!"
"How am I possibly going to get stronger if I remain in bed all day?"
"We can take a turn of the room to help." Ella looked pointingly around the room than back to Jane with a somber stare. "I will find you a dress My Lady." Ella smiled brightly and embraced Jane in a hug. "I do not think My Lord will approve though."
"Let me worry about him."
Just as Jane was putting the final touched on her hair, Ella heard a knock on the door. Jane headed to open it, dropping to a quick curtsey before swiftly exiting the room. James' gazed followed her as Jane rushed down the hall before he turned back to Ella with a frown. "Are you planning on going somewhere this evening?"
"Yes in fact I plan to attend to join my family for supper."
"Ella you should not strain yourself before you are ready."
Ella stepped to him taking both of his hands in hers and looked at him with serious eyes. "James if I stay in this room another moment I may throw myself from the window."
She could pick up a hint of a smirk hidden on James' faces. "You would not do that."
"No?"
"You would not risk adding more unsavory gossip to your family's name."
Ella gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "Perhaps you are right. But as you are well aware desperation make us do uncharacteristic things."
James let out a warm chuckle as he stepped aside and waved his arm toward the door. "Well aware indeed. But sometimes good things come from an act of desperation." He said with a soft smile.
"Hmmm not quite sure I agree with you on that." Ella teased matching his smile.
As they walked out to the hallway James offered Ella his arm. When she looked up at him, she could detect the slight worry in his eyes. "I promise the moment I feel unwell I will let you know."
She could feel his body relax as she wrapped her arm around his. "Thank you."
Upon entering the dining room Ella had to go through the process of explaining to her concerned parents that she needed an escape from her room. Although Mrs. Hunter's face softened, Mr. Hunter was not as convinced, but ultimately conceded to his daughter.
Following the meal, the four of them retired to the parlour. They spent the evening talking about everything and yet nothing at all. Throughout Ella caught James stealing glances to her checking on her condition as the night dragged on. Suddenly a knock at the main door silenced all of them and Mr. Hunter left to see who was calling at such an hour. After several minutes Mrs. Hunter was about to see what was happening, when the door burst open.
Mr. Hunter stood stiffly at the doorway with a mixture of anger and sadness in his eyes. When she entered the room Ella noticed a figure standing meekly behind him and heard her mother let out a surprised gasp.
"Annabelle!" Mrs. Hunter cried.
******
Annabelle Hunter had always been one for impeccable timing. Just when everything seemed to be going fine she would show up and smash it to a million pieces. Ella could notice her mother shift as if she wanted to run to her little girl. Not that Ella could blame her, she herself had to muster all her willpower not to hug her. After all she was still Ella's sister and regardless of her actions she still loved her. Ella could see tears well up in Annabelle's eyes as she surveyed the room.
"I am sorry. I know you forbade me from returning, I just missed you all so much."
Those were the words that brought Ella back to reality. Mrs. Hunter was already wrapping her arms as Ella let out a quiet sigh. James lightly placed his hand on hers, and she relaxed to his touch allowing her hand to intertwine with his.
Ella looked to her father, who like her, was not buying whatever Annabelle was playing at. "You never answered my question at the door Annabelle. Why are you here?" He asked firmly.
"Robert I am sure whatever interrogation you have planned can wait until morning. I am sure Annabelle would like to rest after her journey." Mrs. Hunter spoke while still holding her daughter.
Mr. Hunter nearly growled before breathing out and walking to the windows. "So be it. But we will discuss this first thing tomorrow."
Annabelle released her mother and ran to her father embracing him. Mr. Hunter stiffened at the touch refusing to show emotion. "Thank you father."
As she began to leave the room Annabelle looked at Ella, dropping her head in apparent shame. Mrs. Hunter followed her, leaving Ella, James and, Mr. Hunter behind.
"I wonder how long until this ends in disaster." Mr. Hunter sighed out.
"Father."
"Do not try to pretend you are not having the same thoughts."
"Maybe." Ella released a breath.
"I am going to turn in for the night considering what type of day we are in for tomorrow." Mr. Hunter bowed his head and took his leave.
Ella looked down at the joined hands of hers and James, who had not moved or spoken since Annabelle's entrance. "I suppose I should explain somethings to you."
"I will not say I have not been curious about your missing sister. But you do not have to explain anything you do not wish to."
Ella took a deep breath and began to tell James all the things that happened with Annabelle. Everything with her marriage, the death of Mr. Tyler's son and with William. The whole time James sat idly and listened while occasionally brushing his thumb along the back of her hand when tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
After she finished the both sat in silence for several moments before James looked at her with a thoughtful expression. "So all of this was caused by the damage your sister caused to your family?"
Ella simply nodded her head in response, afraid one word would make her tears fall.
"Then remind me to thank her in the morning."
A burst of laughter escaped Ella. James brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before slowly bringing his lips to hers in a sweet, tender kiss. James rested his forehead on hers as he cupped her cheek with his hand. His thumb absentmindedly wiped away tears Ella was not aware had fallen. "It has been an interesting night. I am sure it has been rather draining for you, we should get you upstairs to bed."
Ella leaned away from him and looked James in the eye with as much seriousness as she could gather. "I rather not be alone with my thoughts tonight. Would you mind joining me?"
James smiled roguishly before beaning back to her, his lips a hair away from hers. "Only to sleep right?"
She smiled into his lips. "I do not think I have the strength for anything else just yet."
"An absolute shame." He rose from his seat and as she went to join him, James picked her up and carried her toward the hall. Ella rested her head on his shoulder and smiled as he brought her upstairs.