Chapter 27

Twenty-Seven

"T he sun is bright outside, Mother. It's a perfect day for a walk," Kitty said cheerfully as she stepped into the drawing room, her eyes hopeful.

Annie followed behind her, nodding with enthusiasm. "And after four days of rain, it's time! We've been trapped indoors for far too long."

Christina glanced up from the book she had been pretending to read— The Voyages of the Intrepid Explorers —and set it down on her lap. The title felt mocking, given how far she felt from any adventure or excitement. For four days, since Victor had left, she had felt numb, hollow. It was as though the rain outside had mirrored the grief within her, a relentless reminder of the storm that had descended upon her heart.

She looked up at the girls standing before her. Their faces were so bright, so full of life, and their concern for her was plain. They had noticed her silence, her absence even in the same room.

Christina glanced out of the window and saw that, for the first time in days, the garden was bathed in the sun's golden glow. The vibrant greenery beckoned, but it was the girls' hopeful faces that finally stirred her.

"You're right," she said softly, forcing a small smile. "It is a good day for a long walk. Why don't you fetch the others, along with your spencers and bonnets? We'll all go together."

The girls beamed, immediately rushing out of the room to gather the rest of the children. Christina sat still for a moment longer, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself. She had to push through her own despair, for their sake. She had married Victor to care for these children, and now, more than ever, they were hers to protect and nurture. He may be gone, but they remain , she thought decidedly.

Rising from the chair, Christina stepped out of the drawing room and found Smith waiting in the hallway. "Smith, please inform Addison that I'm going for a walk with the children. I'll need my spencer and bonnet."

A moment later, Addison appeared with the requested items, her eyes lingering on Christina with a subtle, concerned glance as she helped her into the spencer and fastened her bonnet.

"Is everything all right, Your Grace?" Addison asked quietly.

Christina offered a faint smile, nodding. "It will be."

The children soon came bustling down the staircase, full of energy. Agnes ran up to Christina and grabbed her hand. "I'm so happy you're coming with us!" she exclaimed, her grip tightening around Christina's fingers.

Christina squeezed her hand gently. "I've missed our walks too, Agnes."

As they made their way into the garden, Christina felt a brief sense of lightness return. The sunlight warmed her face, the fresh air filled her lungs, and the children's laughter floated around her. For a moment, it almost felt normal again. Almost.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Miss Peversly trailing behind them, silent and observant as ever. Christina ignored her. The governess had insisted on keeping her position, and now she was merely doing her duty by accompanying them. But Christina had no intention of letting Miss Peversly ruin the day.

Agnes tugged at her hand. "I'm happy to see you smiling, Mama. You haven't smiled in so many days."

Cassidy chimed in, her voice matter-of-fact. "It's only been three days, Agnes."

Amelia, always quick to correct her sister, shook her head. "No, it's been four days."

Christina couldn't help but laugh softly, the sound surprising even herself. "Regardless of how many days it's been, I've missed your banter."

Kitty smiled, glancing at her sisters. "What matters is that you're with us now, Mama, and that makes everything better."

They ventured into the woods, the familiar path winding beneath the towering trees. "There's a witch who lives in these woods," Cassidy began, her voice full of mystery. "She hides in the shadows, only coming out when the moon is full. They say she can change her shape—into a fox, or a raven, or even the wind."

Agnes gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. "The wind? How does she do that?"

Cassidy grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. "It's her magic, of course. But she only uses it to sneak up on children who wander too far into the woods."

Amelia rolled her eyes but played along. "And what does she do with them when she finds them?"

"Oh, she doesn't eat them, if that's what you're thinking," Cassidy replied. "No, she's much cleverer than that. She bewitches them, so they forget who they are and follow her into the shadows, never to return."

The children exchanged glances, their faces a mixture of awe and playfulness.

"Cassidy, you make it sound like we're in danger just walking here!" Kitty exclaimed.

"Well," Cassidy said, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "you never know. We could be closer to the witch's lair than we think."

Christina smiled at their chatter, grateful for the distraction they offered. But when they reached the grand oak tree and decided to rest beneath its sprawling branches, Christina realized something was amiss.

"Where's Amelia?" she asked, glancing around.

The children looked at one another in confusion, and Christina's heart began to race. "Where is she?" she asked again, more urgently this time.

Miss Peversly, standing nearby, crossed her arms, her face stern. "How could you let her out of your sight? You should have been paying attention!"

Christina's eyes flashed with anger as she turned to face the governess. "You've been following us from behind this entire time. You should have had your eyes on Amelia too."

Miss Peversly opened her mouth to argue, but Christina cut her off. "Enough. We need to find her."

They retraced their steps, calling Amelia's name every few paces. Christina's heart pounded in her chest, fear creeping in with every passing moment. The clouds had begun to darken, and the wind picked up, carrying with it the scent of approaching rain.

Christina made a quick decision. "We need to return to the castle," she said firmly. "I can't risk the others getting lost while we search for Amelia. We'll gather help."

The children, now subdued, followed Christina's lead as they hurried back to the castle. The first drops of rain began to fall as they reached the entrance.

"Smith," Christina called out as soon as they arrived, "Amelia is missing. We need to find her at once."

Smith's expression darkened with concern, and he immediately called for several footmen to begin the search. Christina, unwilling to sit idly by, made the decision to follow them. But before she could leave, Miss Peversly stepped forward, her voice sharp.

"It was your encouragement, Your Grace, that led Amelia astray. She has been talking of exploration for days, and now she's gone off into the wilderness. The Duke never wanted his children in these woods. Imagine his disappointment when he returns and finds one missing."

Christina's patience snapped. "You, Miss Peversly, have forced yourself to remain in their lives as their governess. If you were as competent as you claim, you would have kept a closer eye on Amelia."

Miss Peversly's face flushed with anger, but before she could retort, Christina raised a hand, silencing her. "I don't care what you have to say. I have a daughter to find."

With that, Christina rushed out into the rain, following the trail the footmen had taken. The downpour had become heavier, soaking through her clothes, but she pressed on, her mind racing with worry. She couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Amelia.

After what felt like an eternity, one of the footmen called out. "Over here!"

Christina hurried to his side and found Amelia, soaked and muddy, clutching a ruined fan in her hands. The little girl's face was streaked with tears, but her expression softened the moment she saw Christina.

Without hesitation, Christina pulled her into a tight embrace, relief flooding her entire body. "Amelia, thank goodness you're safe."

Amelia trembled in her arms. "Mother, I got lost… I didn't mean to…"

"Shh, it's all right," Christina whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're safe now."

They hurried back to the castle, and as soon as they arrived, Christina called for Mrs. Brimsey. "Fetch blankets and hot bricks, quickly!"

Amelia was shivering as Christina helped her out of her wet clothes and into dry ones. Mrs. Brimsey returned with blankets, and they wrapped her up, placing hot bricks in her bed to chase away the chill.

But soon after, Amelia's body began to tremble with fever. Christina's heart clenched with worry. "Send for the physician," she ordered, sitting by her Amelia's bedside, watching over her as the fever took hold.

"The young lady will need the tonic three times a day," the physician said, his voice measured as he closed his bag and glanced over at Amelia, who lay still and pale beneath the layers of blankets.

Christina nodded, her throat tight. "Thank you, Doctor. We will adhere to your instructions."

The physician gave her a kind look before nodding to Mrs. Brimsey, who escorted him out of the room. Christina stood beside Amelia's bed, watching her daughter's shallow breathing with a heavy heart. More than a day had passed, and the fever had refused to subside. Despite the constant care, the cold compresses, and the medicine, Amelia's temperature remained dangerously high, and with every passing hour, Christina's worry deepened.

Her chest felt tight, as if her very breath was trapped beneath the weight of her fears. She had not slept since Amelia fell ill, and though exhaustion gnawed at her, she could not bring herself to leave her daughter's side. Every time she reached for Amelia's hand and felt the heat radiating from her small body, a fresh wave of dread coursed through her.

A soft rustle of movement caught her attention, and she glanced up to see Kitty, Annie, Cassidy, and Agnes standing by the doorway, their wide eyes filled with concern as they looked at their sister.

Agnes stepped forward, her voice barely a whisper. "Will Amelia be all right?"

Christina's heart clenched, but she forced herself to smile, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Yes, darling. She will be. The physician has given her medicine, and we must give it time."

Agnes nodded, though her little face remained clouded with worry. Christina caught Kitty's eye and gave her a slight nod. Kitty, ever the protective eldest, understood immediately. She took Agnes' hand, while Annie gently tugged Cassidy by the arm. The girls hesitated but allowed themselves to be led out of the room, though their worried glances lingered on Amelia.

The door closed softly behind them, and Christina let out a long, shaky breath. She moved back to the bed and sat beside Amelia, her fingers brushing gently over the child's damp forehead. Her skin was hot to the touch, and it made Christina's heart ache to see her so fragile.

"I'm so sorry, Amelia," Christina whispered, her voice breaking. "I should have kept a better watch over you. I should have never let you out of my sight."

The room was quiet except for the soft crackle of the fireplace and Amelia's shallow breaths. Christina felt a deep sense of helplessness, a weight she could not shake. She had always prided herself on her independence, on her ability to handle whatever life threw her way. But sitting here, watching Amelia suffer, she felt powerless.

She couldn't help but think of Victor. He should have been here, at Amelia's side, offering some strength when hers faltered. But he was gone, miles away in London, unreachable. And now, as she sat here, holding the hand of their child, it felt as though she were carrying the burden alone.

Mrs. Brimsey entered the room quietly, her steps soft but sure. "Your Grace," she said gently, her hands folded before her. "You've been here for hours. Perhaps it would be best if you rested. I can sit with her."

Christina shook her head, though the exhaustion weighed heavy in her bones. "No… I cannot leave her."

Mrs. Brimsey stepped closer, her tone firm but kind. "You will do her no good if you fall ill yourself. I'll stay with her. She'll be well looked after."

Christina hesitated, torn between the desire to remain by Amelia's side and the nagging awareness of her own weariness. She knew Mrs. Brimsey was right—her strength was waning. But the thought of leaving Amelia, even for a moment, felt unbearable.

Finally, with great reluctance, she nodded. "Very well. But send for me if anything changes."

"Of course, Your Grace," Mrs. Brimsey said, her voice full of reassurance.

Christina rose from the bed, smoothing the covers over Amelia one last time. She paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle as she looked back at her daughter, her heart heavy with worry.

"One more thing, Mrs. Brimsey," Christina added, her voice soft but determined. "Send word to London. Inform the Duke that Amelia is unwell. He should know."

Mrs. Brimsey nodded. "I will see to it immediately."

With that, Christina finally stepped out of the room, leaving Amelia in Mrs. Brimsey's capable hands. But as she walked down the corridor toward her own bedchamber, her heart ached with the knowledge that she was still alone in this. Victor had chosen to leave, and now, when she needed him most, he was not there.

She didn't allow herself to cry. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, knowing that for her children's sake, she had to remain strong—even when everything inside her felt like it was falling apart.