The useless servant returned to Friedrich and whispered something to him.
Whatever the servant said made both men turn towards her with raised eyebrows.
Even when his face was dark with soot, his eyes stood out as clearly as the clouded sky above her.
It really did look like it would rain.
A very heavy one.
And with the heavy wind blowing in from the sea, no repairs would be made if such were to happen.
She might as well pack up and return to her father's house, she thought to herself.
There was no need remaining here and breathing in dust and smoke.
Then, Friedrich took the robe from the servant and began walking towards them.
Candace immediately sat upright, her back straighter than a plank.
"You shouldn't be…" He trailed off, his gaze lowering to her breasts before dragging themselves back to her face.
For some reason, she felt like slapping him. Gone was the heat that had stirred in her abdomen.
She quietly let him drape the robe over her slender shoulders, mumuring her appreciation.
"Are you ladies thirsty? Or hungry?"
She shook her head without giving it any further thought.
Candace, on the other hand, said in a cheerful voice that surprised even Eve, "I would like some ale."
Friedrich nodded and left to communicate it to a servant.
Eve couldn't help casting a glance at Candace. A bewildered glance.
After a while of tedious cleaning, they were allowed to enter the house and clean themselves up.
The acrid smell of smoke still lingered in the air as she went up the stairway that led to her bed chamber. The walls here were not stained, although her feet left a trail of prints on the dusty floor.
From the glimpse she had as she passed the main hallway below, not much damage was done to the antique furniture, and the walls could be scrubbed cleaned.
Her room looked unharmed, but the scent of smoke followed her still.
She bathed herself, soaking in the hot water that was brought up to her.
After her bath, she was called down for breakfast outside since the dining room was being cleaned and rearranged.
Eve didn't have an appetite, but she went either way, not wanting to remain alone in her smoke-scented chambers.
When she arrived at the large table set in the lawn at the back of the house, she saw Candace's mother having an animated conversation with the Duke.
Where had she been all night? No one had made mention of her while the fire had raged.
Candace was already seated by her side as well, so was Friedrich.
There was no sign of Theodore.
Plastering a smile on her face, she walked to the table and exchanged pleasantries with everyone there.
The Duke was quiet, nodding when directly spoken to but otherwise remained silent.
"The kitchens haven't been damaged since it is farthest away from the chamber, but we might have to move to another residence until the rearrangements have been completed if we want to eat anything that doesn't taste and smell like it was washed, boiled and served in smoke."
One bite of the bread confirmed Friedrich's words.
She too remained silent.
As the meal was ending, Theodore arrived, dressed impeccably as always.
His cravat was in place, as if he were attending an important event after breakfast.
Everetta couldn't help but wonder.
Was he?
"Which residence do you mean? As far as I know, your family's properties are scattered everywhere." Lady Kent, Candace's mother said, her nose in the air.
The Duke darted a brief glance at her but said nothing.
"We should return from there in three days, if the rearrangements go as planned."
"Where are we going?" Candace asked this time, her voice soft.
"To our house in Lennox. I assume you are familiar with the area, Lady Kent?"
Lady Kent pursed her lips as she pondered on the place he mentioned.
Eve wiped her mouth with a napkin and prepared to leave the table.
She wanted to go on a walk by herself, mostly to clear her head.
When she glanced up, everyone was looking at her.
"What? Did you say something?"
"I was asking if you would join us in Lennox."
Her gaze darted to Theodore.
Was he going to their house at Lennox as well?
"Lady Whitmore?" Friedrich prodded.
The smell of freshly cut grass, freshly brewed tea and of course, smoke, filled the air.
She busied herself by stirring the nearly empty cup of tea in front of her.
"I don't believe I have reason to stay behind." Her voice sounded flat, lifeless.
Theodore just continued with his meal.
"How about you, brother?"
Theodore sipped his tea. That was when she noticed the bandage on his left hand, carefully hidden in the sleeve of his shirt.
"Someone has to stay behind and overlook things here, Friedrich. I doubt anyone would miss my presence for a few days."
The Duke sighed and requested to be escorted from the table just then, as if it were just too tiring to sit still and listen to them.
Of course I would miss you! She wanted to yell at him, but all she could do was sip her tea.
All colour had drained from her face as she speculated spending three days away from him.
She wouldn't die, she told herself.
It would suddenly seem desperate if she stayed behind.
But what choice did she have.
Muttering to be excused under her breath, she left the table as quickly as she could.
The sky above her was gray and overcast, but it didn't deter the birds from singing their lovely songs or the butterflies from nesting in the well pruned flowers that lined the path.
She wasn't certain where it led, but from the scanty shrubbery, it was a well-used path.
She spotted a blacksmith's shed along and a large stable.
The stables.
The fire hadn't reached this part of the estate, for which they all had to be thankful. The horses would have been thrown into panic and lives would have been lost in the hysteria.
Her legs started taking her there before she could think better of it.
Everetta peered inside, hoping to catch sight of the black stallion he had been riding the other day.
The breathtakingly wild beast… and it's rider.
Her heard started pounding.
"You ough' no' be 'ere, Missus." A rough voice called from behind her, startling her.
She jumped and stepped away from the entrance.
"You fancy folk be too fickle for me liking." He walked past her and into the stables.
She just stood there, feeling like a fool.
She was no stranger to horses, but she couldn't ride them either.
All she wanted was a glimpse of the black horse Theodore had been riding.
And her wish came true.
Several horses came running out into the open field to graze, guided by the gruff man that had spoken to her.
There were other stable boys in the field as well, she noticed.
The last horse to come out was the black gelding.
It's nostrils flared as it trotted out, as if it were forever furious for some sin done against it in the past.
She glanced up at the weather and shook her head.
It definitely wasn't the kind of weather for grazing.
"Take them back inside!" She said to the gruff man who stood at the center of the field, her voice carrying on the wind.
He didn't seem to hear her.
She reached for the stallion's snout to rub it, but the horse pulled away from her hands.
Snorting at her, the horse walked past and ventured into the field.
It wasn't any of her business, she reminded herself and turned to leave.
But then, thunder struck and all the horses were thrown into a wild frenzy.
She didn't see when the horse was galloping in her direction, having been covering her ears from the ferocious bellow of the thunder.
Once again, it rang through the sky and the horse in front of her stopped a second too late and kicked out its hooves.
The last thing she remembered before sinking into the ground was the sound of a bone snapping out of place.
"Dear me." She whispered as she drifted off.