3

Olivia woke the next morning to hearing faint crying. She followed the noise and realized it was still dark out. She saw the study door open and went to it. She saw Jared in a mess of papers and broken items. He was at the desk when he picked up a piece of paper and slammed back in the desk and punched the wood, making her jump. Jared noticed and turned. What Olivia saw, broke her heart. Jared’s face was a mess. He turned away from her.

“This is why I don’t come to London.”

“This is where she was last.”

“I should have been here. I could have saved her. I should have been here.”

As his voice trailed off, Olivia could hear it breaking as he collapsed to the floor. She rushed to him and hugged him and held him as he cried into her. Olivia just held him, her heart breaking with him as she never knew that Jared blamed himself.

“It’s not your fault. You were away.”

“You don’t understand, I came back early, but stayed at the fort instead of coming home. Had I just come home, sailed into London instead, she might…”

“Don’t so that to yourself. It is not your fault; do you hear me. You didn’t know.”

She cradled him and he held her arm as he cried. She glanced up and saw that the paper was the letter Lilia had written to send to the Duke, her father. The last thing Lilia did before she died was wrote a letter telling them that Shawn had returned safely. She held him even tighter as he continued to cry. Garret came in about two hours later. He saw Olivia’s door open and grew worried. When he entered the study, he saw Olivia sitting on the floor with her back up against the desk. Jared’s head rested on her shoulder as she stroked his head, even in her sleep. He knew hoe Jared was when he was in town. What this place reminded him of. He walked over to Olivia and gently woke her.

“Garret?”

“Help me take him to bed.”

“Okay.”

“Are you alright?”

“No”

Garret understood as he knew by the look on her face, Jared had told her how he felt about that day. After they put Jared in his bed, Garret walked Olivia to her room.

“Try to get some sleep.”

Oliva watched him walk out, but she knew sleep would be useless.

The next morning, Olivia was sitting at the breakfast table alone. Kiera and Garret had finished and went for a walk. Her mother was in the garden taking in the air and watching the pair. Jared saw her sitting there. He remembered talking to her and taking comfort in her and remembers her stroking him to sleep. He sighed and sat next to her.

“Olivia?”

“Jared! You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Awful that I put so much on you.”

“nonsense. You needed someone this morning. I’m glad I could help.”

“Thank you for talking to me.”

Jared felt weird as he looked at her, but knew it was just the tenderness she had shown him. They talked for some time until a member of his crew walked in.

“Forgive me, Commodore.”

“At ease. What is it?”

“We have gotten word from your brother.”

“Very good. Round up the men and make ready to sail.”

“Aye, sir.”

After the man had gone, Jared rose from the table.

“I must leave. Duty calls. Tell Kiera for me.”

“I will.”

He kissed the back of her hand and walked right out of the door. As she watched after him, she wondered if things would change between them. She told Kiera of Jared’s departure and of what happened. Kiera hugged her friend and walked with her a bit. Kiera loved to walk. She was usually cooped up at the fort, where she couldn’t roam around.

A week later, Garret, Olivia, and Candice were packing to head back when Ben burst through the doors. Kiera ran down the stairs to meet him.

“What is it?”

“Spanish have attacked the fort. Father has mobilized the armies and Jared the ones on sea.”

“You?”

“The king wants me close. But with Father and Jared away and the fort being attacked, I agreed only if he allowed you to stay with me.”

“Ben, I’ve never been to court.”

“But it’s the safest place for you.”

Kiera hugged Olivia and Garret. She didn’t know how long she would be gone. Olivia’s heart broke as she feared for Jared’s life.

Six month later, news and reports were coming in of the navy’s success and their leader. Oliva couldn’t believe it when she read the headlines.

‘Thanks to the leadership of Commodore Eddington, the Spanish have been beaten and have declared a temporary truce to all war games.’

Olivia and Monica had gotten a letter from Kiera boasting about the medal Jared got from the king and that their father couldn’t be prouder. They were all the fort for they were celebrating and hoped to see them soon now that the fighting was over. Olivia hoped to Jared again.