"Not that I am not enjoying this visit, but are you ever going to tell us the reason for this delightful surprise?"
It had been nearly a week since Ella arrived at the threshold of Knighton Park. Her parents knew something was amiss the moment they saw her, but neither prodded too much. Even Jane, who had followed Ella with much argument, had remained tight lipped to questions. Of course once it had become evident that Ella was in no rush to return to Hamsfield things changed. Now she found herself sitting at the dining room table trying to avoid the questioning gazes of her parents and Becca.
"Let us not forget the noticeable absence of your husband. I thought the two of you had found some common ground?" Becca spoke matchings Mrs. Hunter's previous concerned tone.
"Am I not allowed to surprise my family without reason?"
"Darlings you always have a reason for everything you do." Mr. Hunter responded with furrowed brows.
"Hence the suspicion." Mrs. Hunter added.
Ella released a hefty sigh and dropped her head. She could feel the three sets of eyes focused on her as she sought the right words to use. "William Evans had been courting Helen Hawthorne since we left London. He joined them at Paisley Park and made his presence known."
A loud clank from the end of the table caused Ella to jump as she raised her eyes. Her father's usual soft expression had turned tense and anger filled his eyes. Ella looked to her mother, whose own head had dropped following the news.
"So the snake has decided to slither from under the rock he hid under." Becca spat out with unmasked hatred.
Mr. Hunter took a steadying breath, "Ella what exactly happened?"
"He managed to corner me into a compromising situation." Tears welled in her eyes and she fought to blink them away.
Mr. Hunter rose from his chair with such fury that it toppled over with a loud crash. As he paced the room, Ella herself swallowed down all the unwanted emotions forcing their way forward.
"Ella?" Mrs. Hunter's voice cracked on her daughters name.
"Nothing happened mother."
"Becca shifted in her chair before asking, "What happened with James?"
"His mind led to conclusions with asking for the truth." Ella spoke avoiding looking anyone in the eyes.
"And so you ran here." Mr. Hunter grunted on a nod.
"I am sorry, but I am tired of always being the one to have to fight to prove I am not what everyone seems to believe!" Before she could stop it, a sob caught in her throat as tears spilled from her eyes. Mrs. Hunter and Becca rushed to her side to offer comfort. They all stayed silent as Ella's tears subsided and she was left with only sniffles as she composed herself. Suddenly a soft kiss brushed the top of her head and her father's warm hand squeezed her shoulder.
"I should have never agreed to this." He whispered.
"It was my decision father and you know how stubborn I can be. Plus it was not all bad, I did get to go to the theater." Ella smiled through unshed tears.
******
Many days had passed since Ella revealed her reason for returning home, how many she could not be sure. The days had begun to blend together and at some point Ella had stopped trying to track them. She had fallen into a routine that was a much a blur as the passing sun. She walked with Becca to the village passing pleasantries all the while pretending everything was perfect. John had started to visit regularly once more enjoying whatever time they had until Ella left. Of course she did not mention to anyone that her visit was currently permanent until she decided what exactly to do.
Up until the night in the library at Hamsfield Manor, Ella would have done what was expected of a wife to a well known member of society. But the thought of returning to Hamsfield and living in a hollow existence was not something that appealed to her, not after everything that had happened between her and James. In her mind things would return to how they were before London. James would travel often in his proper avoidance while she endured days of boredom alone. Even though Ella knew she was strong enough to handle such a life, especially to quell rumors that could damage her parents, she found the idea of being in that house and all its memories to difficult even for her to bare.
"Nothing quite like an early summers rain to ruin one's day." Becca said looking out the window forlornly.
"Oh, we could always run around in the mud and cause a stir with the locals."
"You should be careful because I find this idea of yours rather intriguing."
They share a ruckus laugh before the fall quiet and look to one another with a mischievous smile. Suddenly they both shoot up and run to the door. As the rain hit Ella a wave of relief washed over. Doing something that went against what she tried to project for years came off as oddly freeing. No worries or concern plagued her. No thoughts of how she was perceived. Just the rain and distant thunder filling the world around her.
Ella and Becca ran around each other laughing and screaming as their dresses soaked through. As Ella struggled to remember the last time she had anything resembling this much fun time slowed around her. She stopped, trying to catch her breath as a sudden wave of dizziness encroached her vision. Ella saw Becca rushing to her, concern etched across her face. The sight was the last she remembered as darkness took over and the world faded away.