The Duchess out of Time

VIII

"I'm sorry Lizzie. I am so sorry that I wasn't there." Edward apologised as Liz began to fiddle with her bed sheets in guilt.

"It's not your fault. It's not like you planned to travel back in time." She realised just how unreasonable she was being, blaming her brother for abandoning her. It wasn't his fault, how was anyone to know that they would travel in time if they got caught in a storm.

"I know. But I had the choice to return home and I didn't take it. I was selfish; I enjoyed being free from him and the responsibility of becoming the next Duke of Devonshire." He apologised again as Edward couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. He had never wanted to follow in his fathers shoes he wasn't a good man. Edward never touched a drop of alcohol after his nineteenth birthday. He refused to be anything like his father and if he had alcohol in his belly he feared he would turn into him. It was silly he knew but it made it easier for him to hold himself accountable.

"I'm sorry Ed." Liz whispered as she knew how much pressure their parents had placed on him as the first-born child.

"I'm glad you're here Lizzie, safe." He answered with a smile giving her a warm hug, being gentle to not hurt her ribs that were almost healed.

"Me too. I've really missed you." She held onto him tightly as she hide her face into his neck. Her brother had been her protector and hero, she was glad he was alive, happy and healthy.

"Me too squirt."

"Hey!" They both burst out laughing as Liz lay back against the pillows that Edward had kindly fluffed up for her.

"How's mum?" Edward asked as the laughter vanished from Liz's face. Her eyes pained as she struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow. For six years no one had spoken a word about her mother. It was raw and fresh, as she was never allowed to properly grieve for her.

"Ed..." Her voice broke as Edward's heart sank into his belly as he realised what she was trying to tell him.

"No. no no no!" His cried got louder and louder as he shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it.

"Edward."

"How?" He asked, his voice breaking as Liz could see his eyes turning red as the tears began to stream down his face.

When Edward was thirteen he had made a promise to his sister. It was the first time they had ever seen their father hurt their mother. He had promised that when he got older that his father would never hurt them. He would protect them and that he would never abandon her to face him alone. When he had turned sixteen and out grew his father he had managed to keep his promise. His father became more cautious and didn't dare go near his sister or his mother. He knew his son could have easily have fought against him and the Duke wasn't a stupid man. He was patient and when Edward had disappeared he had pounced once again.

News of the tragic accident struck the world before the police had the opportunity to notify the family. They were watching it on the news as every station gave different information. Someone say that no one had been accounted for; others said they had all died and some said there were survivors. Liz was sitting on the sofa with her mother, holding each other's hands in comfort, as they desperately wanted any answers. Her father was pacing angrily behind the sofa, wearing a track in the plush carpet as he continued to curse under his breath. Angrily he kicked the back of the sofa, causing both women to jump and close their eyes. A cry escaped Juliette's lips at the sound of the phone ringing, as she was quick to gulp it down before looking at her husband and then her daughter.

Liz's father had been quick to answer it, shouting down the line as they waited for news. His angry curses and increase volume in his voice gave them the indication they feared. It was bad news. Liz's father had never wanted Edward to go on the trip in the first place. He had allowed Juliette to convince him and now his heir was potentially at the bottom of the ocean. The sound of a vase smashing against the ground made both women jump in fear as pieces of crystal shattered across the floor. Juliette couldn't forgive herself when she was told her son was missing at sea. She withdrew within herself and wasted no expense for six months trying to find him.

When the Duke called off all the search parties after six months it was the final straw that broke Juliette. Liz did her best to convince her mother she wasn't too blame, but her father's venomous grip over his mother was too strong. He blamed her every moment he could, it was her fault their son had been on that boat, and it was her fault he had died. The Duke enjoyed his whiskey from the crack of dawn till the moment he collapsed at night. He wasn't a kind man to anyone within his estate boarders. Everyone knew to make himself or herself invisible when he came into view, you didn't want to be on the receiving end of his wrath.

Liz had pleaded for her mother to leave Lismore Castle and join her at Chatsworth estate. But Juliette wouldn't leave, her duty was to be with her husband and be the best Duchess she could be. The Duke had always been careful even in his drunk stupor to never damage Juliette's face. Bruises were easier to hide under clothes than makeup. He was too blinded in his own hate to see his wife fall into a dark depression. One evening when the Duke was out at a gentleman's party Liz had gone to Lismore Castle to drag her mother out of that place to safety. She had banged on her mother's door desperately trying to coax her out but had no luck. Feeling something was wrong down in her gut she had the housekeeper unlock her mothers door.

Liz could still remember the chill going down her spine as she witnessed her mother lying on her bed. Empty medicine bottles littered on the floor as she raced to her mother's bedside. Screaming and crying for help she shook her mothers lifeless body trying desperately to find a pulse on her cold body. By the time the paramedics had arrived she was long gone. Her note to her daughter was short and brief. She apologised for failing her as a mother. Liz couldn't stay under the same roof as her father anymore. She took her opportunity to run to Chatsworth estate where she remained for the next six years.

The Duke didn't make an appearance at his wife's funeral. Liz just excused his behaviour to being a man who grieved in private. It was believable and no one dared question it. Her father didn't bother her for a year or so and Liz had believed he had forgotten about her. Instead he took the time to purposely seek her out, as he no longer had her mother to take his anger out on. Liz remembered the first time she had fought back against her father and it severely backfired. He had drugged her the following evening to make her unable to fight back. He had turned her into his own personal punching bag and she still had the few faints scars to remember it. She found it hard to explain the broken jaw and ribs to her doctor. The best excuse she could come up with was a horse riding accident. She knew the family doctor she saw wasn't stupid and there were only so many excuses she could use to describe her many injuries she gathered over the years. She learnt a lesson from his book and kept a sedative stash close by to pour into his last drink for the day.

"It's my fault." Edward whispered, his heart breaking as his sister told him what happened after his disappearance.

"No Edward. Edward!" Liz pleaded as she could see the guilt ripping him apart before he stormed out of his cabin leaving Liz alone.