Running away

Chapter 15

I raised an eyebrow. "Good enough reason?" He nodded and I rolled my eyes. "So my soon to be husband is found out to be a wife-beater and threatens to have me r***d by many of his "friends" if I disobey and you call that a good enough reason!?" 

I turn away from him and glared at the door closest to me. I was furious. "Yes, a good enough reason in front of his mother but right now, I would like to show him just how much women treated like that suffer." 

I looked at him, a burning forest in his eyes and I felt my heartache. My stomach felt unsettled and suddenly he was the only appetizing thing in the room. "Milliana, he will never get you." Tears welled up in my eyes and, for the first time in years, I cried and I cried hard. 

Rough skin brushed away my tears but that didn't stop the dam that was unleashed by the words I was unconsciously hoping to hear for a very long time. We sat there a long time while I cried and he continuously wiped away my tears. 

It was dark out by the time I had finished crying. The candles were lit at a point but I don't recall when. "Are you better?" He never once left my side as I let years of tears fall. "I don't know." He kissed my forehead and a wave of heat ran through my body. I felt safe and warm. 

"Come, I must return you home." I shook my head and grabbed onto his waistcoat. "I don't want Cathlin to see me like this." The unsaid words hung in the air. 'Let me stay' 

"I'll show you to the guest room and send a post boy at once to let your hosts know that you will be staying here to finish some necessary work for our upcoming trip." I nodded, the taboo of an unwed woman staying under the same roof as a man not related to her was causing my mind to run rapid. My palms became moist and my breathing became laboured. "Calm your thoughts. Nothing will happen to you here." I nodded and swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. 

"But what if I want something to happen, Mr. Cranston?" He gave me a small smile and opened the door to a beautiful room. It looked soft and delicate, like that of a young girl's room. "It was my sister's." 

Was. 

That word had held so much emotion in it. It was almost melancholy. "I shall leave you to get comfortable. I will send some night clothes for you to change into." He shut the door as he left and I began to look around. It really was a beautiful room. The soft colours contrasted with the dark bedding but it was simple. Nothing to extravagant but nonetheless it was very opulent. 

"Miss?" The door creaked open with a soft knock and walked in a young girl who was barely taller than the door handle itself. "Oh come in, come in." She shyly walked to the bed before placing clothing on it. She ran off, her hair trailing behind her as she rounded the corner. I lifted up the fabric she laid down to see a simple nightgown. 

Men's trousers were the next item. "I told you that i had left over clothing from my younger days and these are it. If they do not fit, tell me and I'll have them adjusted." I nodded, knowing I would never tell him if they did or did not fit. "I'll leave you to get some rest." I watched him leave through the door again and landed on the bed face first. The smell of lavender washed over me and I slipped into slumber almost instantaneously.

My last thoughts were on how his bedroom smelled.