The Windsor Girl (24 page)

‘Ellie, thank God you're here’.

‘What's wrong with him Richard?  I know he has not been himself, of late, but to do this?’

‘He's not himself because he is drinking heavily and hardly sleeps a night through.  He has locked the door and refuses to speak to any of us’.  As he said this, he threw a look of apology in Lucy's direction.  Then turned once more to his wife.

‘Will you try to talk to him Ellie?  Perhaps he will listen to you’.

‘I don't know if I can do anything, but I'll try’, she said, going to the window. 

Richard touched her arm and said, ‘Ellie?  This is not any of your doing.  Remember that’.

She nodded to him and peered inside the office.  The sight before her almost made her cry out loud, but she quickly composed herself, and with her mouth close to the glass, she called to James.

‘James?  It's me, Ellie’.  She paused for a second, then again, called his name, ‘James?  Can you hear me?’

James heard Ellie's pleas and wanted to hide away from her.  She was the last person, in the world, who he wanted to see him in this state.

‘Go away Ellie’, he cried.

‘No James, I can't do that.  I will stay here until you open the door’.

He got to his feet and sat at the old desk, his eyes now fixed on one spot on the scratched surface.  Lying there was the pistol he had taken from the cupboard when he had first locked himself in there.

As he looked at the large firearm, he spoke quietly to the empty room.  ‘If I didn't have the guts to stand by Ellie, then where would I find the courage to put an end to my miserable life?’

Ellie followed his gaze and saw what was taking his attention.  She turned to Richard, her eyes mirroring the alarm she felt.

‘He has a pistol in there, Richard.  You may have to break down the door’.

‘I'm afraid not Ellie.  It may be just such a move, which will send him over the edge.  I can't take the risk’.

‘Ellie?  Ellie?  Are you still there?’  James's voice was shaking and near to 'panic'.

‘Yes James.  I'm here’.

‘I'll open the door but it is you, alone, that I will speak to Ellie’.

‘Don't worry
dear, I will be alone’.

Richard was less than happy at this, and for a moment, held his wife close to him.  ‘I don't know if you should go in there, darling.  What if anything should happen to you?’

‘Nothing will happen Richard, I'll be fine.  I have no fear of James for I know he would never hurt me’.

As the door opened and Ellie was admitted, Lucy watched, with aching heart, and began to weep.

‘Why does he only think of Ellie and not I, Richard?’, she sobbed, ‘I love him more than life itself, yet he will speak only to Ellie’.

Richard had no words of comfort for Lucy, as his first concern was for Ellie.  He watched through the window as she approached James, and although his brother's expression was one, of a desperate man, at the end of his tether, his eyes showed signs of life as he looked upon Ellie's face.

‘I'm sorry Ellie.  Forgive me’, said James.

‘For what James?   What have you done which requires forgiveness?’

‘I have sunk to the lowest ebb of my life and think the world would be a better place without me’.

Ellie took both of his hands in her and looked directly into his eyes.

‘Nonsense!  I would not want to live in a world that did not possess your kindness and love.  You are a special person, James and dearly loved, by many’.

James brought her hands up to his mouth and placed his lips upon them, barely touching the skin.  ‘If only I had married you Ellie, I could have been happy’.

‘It was not meant to be James’, she whispered, ‘we were not destined to be lovers’.

‘No’, was all he said.

‘But that doesn't mean that you cannot be content with someone else.  Give yourself a chance, James.  Forget the things you cannot have and get on with the business of living’.

James was silent, so Ellie continued.  ‘It may seem cruel, but I must say this.  If I had married you when you ask me, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life, and if anything should go wrong with my marriage to Richard, I could never marry you.  Don't you see James; I don't love you that way.  I never did’.

‘I always knew that, Ellie.  You were straight about that from the start.  I've been a fool’.

‘But James, it's not too late to start again.  You are a young man and I know that you are fond of Lucy.  She is obviously in love with you.  Could you not give her a chance?’

‘She's a good person Ellie and I don't want to her hurt any more.  I've hurt her enough’.

‘I think that should be her decision, don't you?  Why don't I have her come in so you can sort things out?  It would make you feel better and she is so worried about you’.

James reluctantly agreed.  Lucy was relieved to see he was a little better and hugged him to her breast.  They were alone together for about an hour, and then finally, they emerged and went home with Richard and Ellie.

No one ever mentioned the incident again, although, it was foremost in their minds.  Richard and Ellie had agreed that they should move to the country house.  Richard had had enough of the city life and wanted only, to spend his days in the peace and quiet of the county, with his wife and child.

James seemed to have regained his composure and was, once again, taking an interest in the mill.  He and Lucy were walking out together and some kind of normality settled over the household.  You could almost hear the sigh, from the top of the house to the cellar of the kitchen; such was the relief of staff and family alike.

James went to the railway station to see them off and genuinely felt happy for them.  The love shone out of Ellie’s eyes whenever she looked at Richard and he was glad for her.

She leaned out of the window, the breeze blowing wisps of hair across her face, and kissed James on the cheek.

‘Look after yourself, James, and please, don't be a stranger.  You'll be very welcome.  You and Lucy’.

‘Be happy Ellie’, he murmured, gently touching her cheek.

‘I will.  Goodbye,
dear
James’.

‘Goodbye Ellie’.

The whistle sounded, the guard waved his flag and the train began to move, slowly, out of the station.  Ellie waved until she could no longer see him, then turned to Richard.  He held out his arms to her and she went into them with a sigh.

‘It's over darling’, he said, ‘he will be alright now’.

She slipped her arms around his neck and whispered, ‘at last, my love, we will be alone and free to think only of ourselves.  How wonderful it will be’.

‘You haven't forgotten Will, have you Ellie?’

‘Oh no.  I couldn't forget my beautiful son.  We will be so happy, the thee of us.  No matter what happens or how much I have to do, nothing will prevent me from making love to my wonderful husband’.

‘I'm so glad to hear that, for I have plans for you my Darling and I doubt I can contain myself until we reach our new home’.

His mouth came down, passionately, on her inviting lips and they savoured the love that vibrated between them.

Neither of them noticed as the green countryside flashing by the window, so engrossed were they in their embrace.   Their hearts beat as one, as they melted into the tenderness of the moment.  As their eyes met and their mouths caressed, they each were convinced that the world had never known a love such as theirs.

And So....

Standing on the top of the hill, dressed in a morning dress of mauve tulle and lace, Ellie Courtney surveyed her domain.  She held on to her matching bonnet, as the breeze threatened to lift it up into the bright, blue sky.

From there she could see the farm and the acres of good, green land, surrounding the country house.  She and Richard had lived there since their departure from
Leeds over a year ago.

She could see Will, toddling around the lawn with little Sophie close at heel, and nurse watching them closely.  How quickly they had grown!

Victoria and the children were here too, to help celebrate their second wedding anniversary.  She could just make out the invalid chair, complete with a laughing, Vicky, supervising everyone in their play.  Victoria still used the chair, but often walked short distances, with the help of her callipers.

Ellie's heart was filled with tender love, as she spied her brothers, who still played 'footie', instructing Jenny's son, Peter, in the art of 'dribbling'.  Mark and Jenny looked on, with pride.

Dear Aunt Dora, dressed in her best clothes, not quite having come to terms with the idea of being an important guest, in her niece's 'grand' home, sat in a garden chair, her handbag resting on her knee.  Ellie was relieved that her aunt had agreed to come at all, as Uncle Albert had refused to accompany her.

Richard and Ellie had understood, when James had declined, for himself and Lucy, saying he was too busy at the mill, and his wife was under the weather.

They had seen little of James and Lucy, but Louise had assured them that Uncle James doted on Will and she herself was besotted with her grandson.

Bet, had sheepishly,
and turned down her invitation, 'seeing as you have enough on you hands.  You know how it is, Lass"?

Yes, Ellie knew how it was!  And she understood, perfectly.

Ellie could see Kate, or Sister Josephine as she was now known, dressed in the habit of a novice.  She was to take her final vows sometime next year, and was overjoyed with her tranquil life.

Louise had brought several members of the staff with her, for the weekend, and it seemed to Ellie that two of them had been hand picked, especially for her.

With William and Rose here, Ellie spent more hours in the kitchen, than was deemed suitable.  But Richard was very tolerant.  He knew that Ellie was happy, whether alone with he and Will, or with a house full of guests.  That his wife was happy was his only concern, for he loved her, more than life itself.

Ellie heard a sound
behind her, and a smile of contentment spread over her face, as she turned to welcome Richard’s embrace, which enclosed her in a cloak of happiness from which she never wanted to be free.

             
THE END