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ANNIE FELT JUST DISGUSTED. Closing her eyes, she saw his ugly face in front of her. It was frightening to imagine what could have happened if her husband had appeared even a moment later. John felt he had to be there for his wife at such an emotionally difficult time in her life. During the night he called Tommy and told her what had happened. On the phone it was hard to know exactly what his brother was thinking now, for Thomas had been simply silent on the phone for a long time, but eventually he gave the okay to stay in London for another week.
Annie didn't want to leave the room for two whole days. The children missed her, especially little Kathy, who demanded all of her stepmother's attention. It was hard to explain to the small children what had happened in their family that caused them not to see Annie for two days. Last night Edmund had cried at the table and said that it was his fault Annie was no longer there, for he had disrupted the painting and now the girl must be angry with him.
- Edmund, come here," Harold called to the child.
He looked hesitantly first at Charlotte, who was feeding Katie, and then at his father. John nodded to him and with a sigh, the boy cautiously approached the duke. Harold picked the boy up in his arms and placed him in his lap.
- 'Edmund, you're a very sweet boy,' Shelby the younger was embarrassed. - Annie is not at all resentful of you," he said as he looked straight into the boy's eyes. - She's just sick and she doesn't want to infect you, but she'll get better soon and we'll finish the painting.
A happy smile appeared on the boy's face and he clapped his hands happily.
- Tomorrow we can go into town and buy you something, Ophelia smiled at her husband's words. - Wouldn't you agree?
Edmund hugged his grandfather tightly and nodded vigorously. Harold and Ophelia had forgotten the joy of small children; the last child that brought them smiles was Anne. But she had long since grown up and so it was nice to feel the warmth and joy of children again.
John, meanwhile, was on his way with a tray of food for his wife. Wandering around the mansion he met the maid coming down the stairs from the side of their room. Shelby learned from the woman that Anne hadn't had breakfast or lunch, and indeed, hadn't let anyone into her chambers. He knocked on the door for appearances and without waiting for an answer went inside. His heart clenched when he saw her. Annie was sitting in an armchair against the window with her back to her husband. She did not even turn around at the noise.
- I've brought you something to eat," he informed her, but there was no response.
- You haven't left your room for a long time, dear.
And nothing again.
Sighing heavily, John left the tray on the coffee table and staggered towards her, stopping just a step away. He knew full well that words wouldn't help. She was now fighting herself and it was not yet clear who would emerge victorious from this battle - her or the terrible memories. In their time as a family, Annie had become a loyal friend to him and the most beautiful woman in the world. So gentle, kind, sincere and understanding - a rarity for the likes of him.
He took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly, as if to say he was there for her and ready to help. John hopes Annie wins the battle for mental clarity because he needs her. Now Shelby can't imagine life without his beautiful wife, which is his faithful friend and adviser. She does a great job as a mother without complaining about the ever-noisy children. The girl has accepted the lifestyle that allows the Shelby clan to thrive in this world and has said nothing against it either. She understood everything.
After sitting on the armrest of her chair for a while, the man headed for the exit, deciding to leave his wife alone. When the door closed behind John, Annie was still staring into the distance, but tears were streaming down her face, forming wet streaks.
John spent the rest of the day in the library, where he had headed earlier after leaving his and Annie's chambers. It was a huge room with a dozen shelves and thousands of books. Most of them only existed in a single copy. It was spacious, with tables to read at and armchairs to relax in. But the most breathtaking thing must have been the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the back of the mansion. A small pond was conspicuous, containing the ducks that Edmund had been feeding for a long time. The rest of the house had not yet returned from their trip, and Shelby had some time to spare. The man decided to spend it studying the New Testament. In times of war, many of the boys read prayers or reread the Bible before battle, asking God for help and protection. John made it a habit too. Now he went to services with Aunt Polly and prayed constantly. He thought it was the right thing to do, hoping that at least this way the Almighty would forgive him for his sins.
- "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her... In the same way, let each of you love his wife as himself; and let the wife fear her husband" (Eph. 5:25,33).
The door opened quietly and Mrs Shelby entered the huge library. But she entered so quietly that her engrossed reading husband didn't even hear her, so he involuntarily froze as she gently wrapped her arms around his neck and inhaled the man's scent, running her nose along the firm neck. For a second John forgot how to breathe. Annie just hugged him gently and said nothing. He was aware that he needed to wait until she had gathered her thoughts and started to act on her own, and so he continued reading.
- Thank you," she whispered suddenly, but her voice seemed deafening in the silence of the room. - And I love you.
John's heart skipped a beat and beat with redoubled force, and his eyes sparkled happily. Turning around, he sat his wife in his lap and gave her a gentle smile. He took her chin and looked into those beautiful eyes. As soon as he met her gaze, he was instantly drowned. Gently approaching her nibbled lips, he froze a few centimetres away, expecting her to push him away, but it turned out to be exactly the opposite. The girl snuggled into him herself, enjoying the soothing feeling and softness of her spouse's lips.
Pulling away Annie smiled at him embarrassedly, which amused John.
- Shall we go into the kitchen and cook something? - The man suggested.
She laughed.
- Can you really cook?
- No, but you obviously can.
She was smiling again, maybe not as brightly as before, but still smiling. When Ophelia and Harold returned from town with their grandchildren, they were pleasantly surprised. There was a set table waiting for them in the dining room, which had been prepared by the children. The young couple let the staff go and decided to cook dinner themselves.
