Ella sat back in the carriage thinking back to the events of the previous night. Upon entering the townhouse, she began to make her way to her room. Before she reached the stairs she stopped and turned around to see James still standing near the door. His face was unreadable as he watched her from the distance.
"I apologize if I cause any harm to you character this evening."
"You did no such thing. You handled whatever the situation was with grace."
"If it is all the same, I believe I have had my share of London and would like to return home."
"If that is what you wish. I will have everything arranged for the morning."
She spent the rest of the night restlessly in bed trying to sleep with no avail. In the morning as she attempted to eat breakfast Ella noticed James had already left for the day. Part of her had hoped that he would at least send her off, but then she wonder if maybe he was upset by what happened and felt that distance was better. When Ella had spoken to Becca when she had returned shortly after her and James the night before, she had chosen to stay behind with some relatives that lived in town. Ella understood her friends desire to stay behind, yet she still felt a pang of sadness at taking the journey to Hamsfield alone.
A jolt from the carriage brought Ella back to the present as she began the slow trek out of London. Somehow Ella had noticed the faces of the people on the street seemed sadder than when she first arrived two months prior. Unless of course it was simply because she was sadder than when she arrived. Her mind continued to wander, unable to focus on one thought, when suddenly the carriage door swung open. Ella was unable to hide the shock on her face as James casually sat beside her.
"Apologies, I had some last minute business to finish before leaving." He said while making himself more comfortable.
"You did not have to do that."
"No, I did not."
Ella turned to look out the window once more. As she settled in, she felt the warmth of a hand join hers. Ella found herself smiling slightly as her had twined with his and they began their journey out of the city.
******
The trip through the frozen English countryside had been uneventful. Ella's exhaustion from her emotions and lack of sleep the prior night had caused her to nod off multiple times during the trip. Each time she woke to find her head resting on James' shoulder, to which he seemed unbothered by.
As they came within five miles of Hamsfield the carriage violently jolted sending Ella flying from her seat. Upon landing she found herself surrounded by extra warmth and strong arms wrapped around her. When she had been thrown, James had protectively braced her from the impact by using his own lean body as a cushion. The two laid on the carriage floor, their heartbeats slowing as James cradled her head against his firm chest. Ella let out a breath of contentment and risked a glace up to his face, only to find his gaze upon her. She found herself transfixed by his eyes, to which she reckoned were the same color as sapphires. Ella was so lost in the flecks of grey she never noticed before, that she nearly jumped out of her skin when her spoke in a whisper.
"Are you unharmed?" His voice matched the softness in his eyes.
"I am, thank you." She breathed out.
The both laid in silence, neither rushing to move. James slowly reached a hand to her, gently brushing a strand of hair that had fallen in her face. Ella could not help but lean into his delicate touch. Yelling coming from outside the carriage door snapped them back to reality. She could just hear James let out a groan of frustration as he carefully lifted her up.
"Wait here while I see what happened." A look of longing etched on his face.
"Based on the unnatural angle we are leaning I would hazard a guess we have lost a wheel." She determined trying to appear as unaffected as she possibly could.
"Yes let us hope it can be repaired, there is not many places nearby for help." He hummed in agreement.
As James left the carriage, Ella sat on the lopsided floor with her arms around her knees processing what had just transpired. As she sorted through the different emotions running through her, ones she never imagined she would feel again, she decided to get up and leave the carriage. She spotted James speaking with the driver while the two footmen that accompanied them worked to mend the broken wheel. Ella could see James' brows furrow as he turned to make his way back to her.
"I take it the carriage is not moving for sometime."
"The damage was more than the wheel, it looks as if the axle snapped as well. The driver has offered to walk to one of the estates nearby for assistance." He spoke on an extended sigh.
"Hamsfield is the closest and the other carriage will be in London for at least another day."
"Yes and the closest estate that may have one available is nearly seven miles from here." Ella could hear the frustration in his voice growing.
She looked around at the road and to the woods and melting snow that surrounded them before looking up to the grey and dreary sky. There was a chill to the air and the road itself was muddy with high grooves hardened by the winter frost. Ella was more than a little surprised the wheel had made it this far. She let out a soft, thoughtful hum before facing James.
"Well it seems there is only one thing for us to do."
"And that is?" He asked with an eyebrow quirked up.
"We simply walk the rest of the way home." She stated factly.
"It is five miles in the mud and form the looks of the darkening sky it may rain."
"Can you noble disposition not handle a little general discomfort?" She mocked teasingly.
James let out a long sigh and began walking away and Ella followed in victory. "Remember this was your idea, I will not carry you if you grow tired."
"Strange I was just about to say the same."
He let out a small laugh and she smiled at the sounds as they walked side by side on the road home.
******
The walk towards Hamsfield had been a pleasant one. Ella and James enjoyed idle conversation as they strolled along the muddy road. Even with the relaxing peace, Ella knew that James was trying his best not to broach the topic that had hung in the air since the theater. The closer they got to the manor Ella had begun to notice the temperature drop even more as the wind picked up.
"Perhaps this was not the wisest decision after all." She said.
"With the way out luck has been recently I would agree. Let us hope the weather holds though."
"Even so we are close to home and plus a little water never hurt anyone."
"I doubt Collins and Jane would agree. I am sure they will be overjoyed with the mud as is."
"I wonder were you always so grumpy or is this a more recent character development?"
"My tutors would say always."
Just as Ella let out a loud laugh, the sky opened up and a heavy rain began to fall. "Yes our luck is truly remarkable."
"Next time we remain in the carriage."
"Remind me of this moment if I attempt to argue."
James grabbed her hand and the two began running down the road full of laughter. He led them to one of the side trails heading away from Hamsfield and she found herself in front of a small cottage. As she stood huddled under a small covering in front of the door, James searched nearby pots. Within moments he grabbed a lone key from under one of the pots and opened the cottage door and led Ella inside.
"Whose home is this?" She asked on a rain soaked shiver.
"The old pastor lived here with his wife. He passed several years ago and after sometime she decided to go live with her son in Bath."
"Why did the current pastor not move in?"
"He prefers to be amongst his parishioners. Pastor Fredrick and his wife liked a certain solitude."
"I could see the appeal in that."
"I would not have guessed, you always are so well at conversing with just about anyone."
"Sometimes I find more joy just looking outside and watching the world pass by as opposed to unimportant gossip."
James led her to a small room with a sofa and fireplace. "I will check the shed outside to see if there is any dry wood for a fire. There should still be some blankets around for us to use."
Ella searched the cottage and found blankets and sheets for the two of them to dry and warm themselves with. As she reentered the living room she saw James stoking a fire. She observed how the light glow of the early fire shadowed his face, how it accented the slight hollow of his cheeks and his roman shaped nose.
"I did not think starting a fire was something most nobles were familiar with."
"If you watch it done enough you begin to learn." James stood and turned to her with what appeared as apprehension. "There is another matter at hand."
Ella looked down at her soaked clothing as it dripped onto the floor. "Ah yes, they will dry faster next to the fire."
"It would also help from either of us falling ill." He paused clearing his throat, "I will give you some privacy." He gave her a nod of his head before walking to the door of the room.
"James?" He turned to look at her with question in his eye at her voice. "I believe these fancy ladies dresses are made to be one's own personal prison." Ella dropped her head her voice a whisper, "I may need help undoing the back."
"Are you certain?" He asked his voice hoarse.
She looked up to meet his eyes, "I would not ask if I was not."
Ella turned around as James stepped closer to her. His nearness caused her heartbeat to quicken as she sensed his arms rise hesidently behind her. Agonizingly slowly, he began to undo the buttons of the back of the dress one by one. As he unbuttoned the last one he paused briefly before tenderly brushing the skin below her neck and across her shoulders with the tips of his fingers. Ella let out a hitched sigh as the fabric of her dress began to move downwards as James lowered it from her body. His fingers still lightly touching her skin as his hands traveled down her arms.
When the heavy weight of her rain soaked dress finally pooled at her feet, Ella slowly spun around to face James. They stood there looking in each others darkened, heavy lidded eyes as time seemingly stood still. The only sounds around them, the pounding of the rain accented by the crackling fire mixed with their own ragged breaths. James lifted his hand to brush her cheek all the while his eyes never wavered from hers. After what felt like an eternity he moved closer, their bodies only a whisper apart. In an instant all the sound echoing around them faded away to nothingness as his lips softly met hers.