Chapter 3

At Sterling Summer House, I changed into dry clothes and stepped outside. But the rain only worsened, turning into a relentless downpour.

A servant from the abbey came hurrying through the rain with a message. The roads were washed out, so the ladies would be staying the night at the abbey.

They told us to do the same here, and we would all descend together once the weather cleared tomorrow.

"No," Lucas shot back at once. "We can't stay. We promised Grace we'd bring back strawberry cakes from the foot of the mountain. We have to get going."

As he spoke, he looked out at the storm. All the carriages were still up at the abbey. We were stranded.

Frustrated, he suddenly turned and glared at me. "This is all because you went off to that orchard. We had to come after you, and now we're trapped up here while Grace waits for those cakes."

Charles and Andrew were equally agitated. At Lucas's words, they both looked at me with anger and resentment.

Any warmth I had once felt for them had long since faded, but I kept my expression steady as I spoke. "Back then, the three of you fell into that pit while playing.

"I ran everywhere for a rope, called for help, and pulled you out with my own hands, hurt and bleeding."

As I finished, they all went still for a moment.

Our childhood had been full of care shared between us. They had protected me many times, and I had always tried to do right by them, too.

They were anxious, but they had no grounds to take it out on me.

Charles frowned deeply. "The mountain roads are dangerous in this rain. If we don't start now, we won't make it back in time. If Grace doesn't see us, she'll be upset and worried. She won't sleep a wink."

Andrew stiffened, panic rising in his voice. "I'm going now. I have to see Grace."

Lucas gritted his teeth and, without another thought, bolted into the storm. Charles and Andrew rushed out after him, as desperate.

"Wait," I called out suddenly.

Charles spun around, eyes blazing. "Evelyn, is this your jealousy again, trying to hold us back?"

Lucas threw me a furious look. "If you want to run and tell our mothers, go ahead. We don't care."

I pressed my lips together. "Since you brought me here, I'm reminding you to take raincoats. That's all."

They paused, then pulled on their raincoats.

Andrew's expression softened slightly. "Stay safe here."

"Come on, don't keep Grace waiting," Lucas urged, and then he was off into the rain.

Without another word, they put on their raincoats and left Sterling Summer House, never looking back.

I watched calmly as they threw caution to the wind and rushed headlong into the storm for Grace.

Once, they used to say, "I'm going to marry Evelyn and take care of her forever."

"I'll give Evelyn the best of everything."

"No one will ever hurt Evelyn. We'll always protect her."

Now those promises, along with their figures, disappeared into the rain.

As I was about to go back inside, I saw a rider approaching in the distance, drawing closer.

I stopped, stunned for a moment. The man who had been away working a case had braved the storm to come all this way.

He pulled the reins and dismounted. I was so anxious I nearly stepped into the downpour.

"Stay there," he called out, quickly tossing the reins aside and striding toward me.

But I didn't care. I ran straight into the rain and threw myself into his arms.

I thought, 'Like Charles and the others, when you run toward the person you care for most, you don't hesitate.'

*****

On the morning of my wedding, Martha and the other women came to help me prepare.

Some curious guests, who were unaware of the situation, asked why their sons were not here. The ladies could only offer awkward explanations that other matters had kept them away.

Grace had already made certain everyone knew Charles and the others were taking her to Greendale to visit her grandfather. She called it a little holiday.

Perhaps they were too caught up in themselves to realise I was about to be married.

Grace had pretended to invite me along somewhere, but of course, I ended up being blamed for breaking her hairpin.

The three of them turned on me, voices cold as they told me to stay home and reflect on my mistakes. I was not welcome to join them. They left with Grace looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

Such scenes had played out more times than I could count. Grace was acting innocent, but the boys never once questioned her.

When I first met Grace, she was merely the daughter of a minor official's concubine.

At the ball dancing in Kingston, she accidentally bumped into a noble girl and was mocked for it. I could not stand to watch, so I stepped in to help her.

Later, when I was out with Charles and the others, we saw her being harassed by thugs in the street.

I told Lucas to rescue her, and those bullies got a taste of their own medicine.