Cecilia:

It was christmas eve and the snow was still falling heavily outside. A huge fir tree had been erected in the corner of the hall and had been decorated with glass ornaments, candles, sweets and small chains of metal stars that wrapped around the width of the tree. Mistletoe and holly had been hung in every room and spiced oranges decorated the mantle pieces of the fires.

I was pleased with my decorations of the manor and excited to see what Rory would think. The excitement suddenly faded slightly as I remembered his avoidance of me these past weeks. I could not deny that I too had ignored him in response but the manor felt terribly lonely as a result.

Rory's sudden departure to London had given me the chance to think properly about how I felt about him and what I wanted. I had come to realise that I was as much in love with him as ever and with him far away from home my love only grew.

True we were not speaking when at Clampton but he was still there. He was around, he was sleeping in the next room and eating with me in the dining hall even if it were in silence.

The manor felt empty and isolated without him and I longed for his return although he was not said to return home until tomorrow. I only hoped he would be back in time to eat the feast I was planning to cook for him. It was christmas after all.

I decided to occupy myself with a short walk to the walled garden before dinner was served, at least there the silence would not be so unbearable. In the weeks that Rory and I had evaded seeing and speaking to each other I had sought refuge of sorts in the large garden that reminded me somewhat of my old home.

Unlike my father's estate, Holden house, the walled garden was well kept making it beautiful in a different way to the unkempt wilderness that had been found hidden away in Holden. There was a small stone arch with a bench beneath it in one corner of the garden and this was often where I would sit and try to forget all of marital problems, something that was definitely easier said than done.

I sighed as I entered the garden, leaving the door slightly ajar. Rory would return tomorrow and I was not ready to bear his recent detached and withdrawn nature even if my heart cried out to be near him once more. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I almost did not notice the deep cough from my side.

"Cecilia," a decidedly male voice said. My head snapped up to see whoever had intruded my private space.

"Edward?" I asked in surprise, what on earth was he doing here? My eyes widened as I felt his hands take hold of my arms.

"Yes it is I my love." My love? Was he deranged, I was a married lady, he could not address me in such an improper way. Before I could correct him however he continued.

"Cecilia, it has been too long. I am sure you know just how much I love you, and I feel that you reciprocate those feelings." I shivered as his hand rubbed up my arm. Using all my strength I pushed him back and moved carefully away from him.

"I am sorry Edward but you are wrong in your assumptions, I do not love you. Maybe once upon a time, when I was a child, I might have held you in high regard, but I do not love you." I tried to make myself clear, hoping my voice was steady and calm as I trembled inside.

"Cecilia come away with me," his voice was louder this time. "We can see the world together, just you and I. We can be together without your idiotic husband getting between us again." I sucked in a sharp breath of the cold air that circle around us as I tried to increase the distance between Edward and myself.

"He has more sense and decency than you will ever have, he is a true gentleman unlike you sir." I defended Rory. "I would never betray him like that."

"But think of everything we could have Cecilia, surely you value that beyond propriety?" His question confused me, had I not made it clear how I felt? I opened my mouth to reiterate my feelings but Edward spoke up again.

"You must run away with me Cecilia, I love you!" His voice sounded desperate and I almost felt bad for rejecting him so harshly, but I had to be honest. The chilly air circled around me and infiltrated my skin. I rubbed my hands along my arms in an attempt to generate some more heat but the goosebumps on my arms refused to disappear.

"I have already told you Edward, I do not love you and I will not leave Clampton. And I will not leave Rory." I said, hoping my voice sounded stronger than I felt. I did not know this man in front of me anymore, I was not sure what he was capable of and I was scared.

"What has he ever done for you, what has he ever given you that I haven't?" Edward's voice had lowered an octave in a frightening manner. "Did you not used to come crying to me about him, he hurt you a lot Ce, I have never and would never hurt you like that, come away with me, you must. I know you love me too."

"You know nothing of how I feel," I said plainly, "And you are wrong if you think that I love you, for I do not." His eyes had turned steely and there was nothing soft in them anymore as I spoke, my words ringing out with an air of finality.

"I am sorry Cecilia," I glanced puzzled at Edward for a moment before I felt a wave of nausea pass over me. Edward had pulled a pistol from his coat pocket and he held it aims directly at me. Oh god no, please no. I felt my body weaken and I fought to stay stable on both my two legs.

"W-what are you d-doing?" I was surprised I had managed to get the words out as my body began to noticeably shake. Surely not, surely he could not... What had happened to the Edward I had known? Who was this man before me?

"Well my beautiful Cecilia," I was brought back from my thoughts as Edward's voice lingered in the crisp air. "If I cannot have you, than nobody shall." A smirk tugged on his lips as he clicked back the catch of the pistol.

This was it. This was the end. I braced myself and shut my eyes tightly before I heard another voice, a very familiar voice shout my name, "Cecilia!" Rory? I turned my head to see him sprinting towards me, his eyes just as terrified as I'm sure mine were.

I felt my world slow down as he threw his body in front of mine as a shield, his eyes staring desperately into mine with raw emotion. He was trying to say something I was sure, but my mind was completely numb as I watched his body fall to the ground as he took the force of the bullet.

"Rory!" I cried, dropping to the ground beside his motionless body. I was hardly aware of Edward's curse as he clicked his pistol back into position but nothing fired, the dull thud of the pistol hitting the snowy floor echoed around the garden as his figure disappeared from the garden in a flash.

My thoughts were solely focussed on Rory as a steady flow of crimson seeped from his body and into the wet snow. I tore a piece of fabric from my dress and pressed it down on the open wound to try and ease the flow of blood.

Somehow I managed a cry of "Help!" and prayed to god that someone had heard it as I broke down into sobs. Why had he done such a stupid thing? I did not know what I would do if he died, no, I couldn't think like that. I had to tell myself he would live, he had to.

I ignored the wet snow seeping into my clothes and the red staining my dress as I knelt next to Rory's pale body, neither were important at that moment. I could only hope that someone had heard my shout.

A wave of relief swept through me as I saw a worried looking Ellis appear at the door to the garden. "I came to inform yer that dinner was served when I heard your..." His voice trailed off as he took in the scene in front of him.

"We need to get him back to the house, and we need a doctor immediately." I tried to sound as commanding and in control as possible whilst my insides twisted painfully, I was the duchess and my servants looked to me for guidance, I needed to be strong for them.

Ellis nodded his head and came to my side in an instant. Together we lifted Rory's arms around our shoulders and proceeded to carry him back towards the house. My muscles ached and my body cried for me to rest for a minute but I forced myself on through the thick snow. I had to get Rory to the house before death became inevitable.

I gritted my teeth and increased the pace we were moving at, I would not lose Rory. I could not lose Rory. Not now. Ellis huffed under the weight of Rory's body but did not complain once and we were soon at the steps of the manor.

"Somebody fetch a doctor straight away, it is a matter of urgency!" I shouted as we hoisted Rory up the stairs and into the main foyer. There was instantly a crowd of servants gathered around us murmuring amongst themselves.

"You two," I pointed at two of the footmen who looked more capable of carrying Rory. "Take his Grace to his room, be careful, he has suffered a great injury." The two young men nodded their heads and took over from Ellis and I.

I hurried up the stairs behind the men before turning back around, "A doctor! Now!" I called out to the group of sorrow filled servants; it was clear they held their master in high regard.

I watched as one of the maids rushed out of the door and began to cry for a horse and boy to fetch the doctor.

"Godspeed." I murmured under my breath, it would surely take a miracle to save Rory.

Rory was rushed into his room and placed on the large bed. All the colour had left his face and the blood was still spilling from the open puncture in his chest. I ordered the footmen about requesting new cloths, water and some laudanum if there was any in the house for when he came around, if he came around.

The doctor arrived much sooner than I had anticipated but I was more than glad to see him. I remained by Rory's side as the doctor inspected the wound, cleaned it and began to sew the opening in his chest together. Every now and then the doctor would give me instructions or search through his small leather bag for various implements to help him.

"Now we wait," the doctor said less than hopefully as he stood up from the bed. The blood had stopped flowing from the bullet wound but Rory's face was still pale and his pulse extremely weak.

"Do you think he will make it?" I asked in a scratchy voice gazing up at the doctor hopefully. I gripped Rory's hand tightly in mine as my eyes pleaded the doctor to tell me he would live.

"I cannot tell as of yet, I would prepare yourself for the worst though, his case is not a promising one." I knew it was coming but his words still sent sharp shards of pain into my chest.

"My sincerest apologies your grace, I have done all that I can do." The doctor nodded towards me before picking up his instruments and leaving the room. The tears fell unbound from my eyes as soon as the door closed behind the doctor. I gripped his hand in mine tightly, I couldn't lose him.

I didn't bother to change, my dress was ripped and blood stained but I ignored my state of attire and climbed into the bed next to Rory, "You can't leave me, you can't Rory." I said in a broken voice. I brushed a few strands of hair out of his face and placed a cool cloth against his hot forehead.

"What possessed you to do such a foolish thing?" I cried, my salty tears dripping down onto his neck as I did so.

"I'm so sorry Rory, for everything," I continued. "Things have changed between us this past month, we have barely spoken or even acknowledged each other and I've hated every second of it. I don't know what I'll do if... if..." I couldn't finish my sentence, I couldn't say it.

"I need you h-here with me, I-I love you Rory." I hiccuped before breaking down into another bout of tears as the impossible reality of the situation began to set in.

I was going to lose the only man I ever had and ever would love, and he did not even know of my feelings. Curling up beside Rory, my hand still clutching his, I let sleep take me as my tears continued to course down my cheeks in a familiar pattern.

Hey everyone,

So sorry for the extremely late update but I have been in Cambridge looking around a college all day - but the update is finally here! We're approaching the end of this story now but I'm hoping to write a sequel if I have the time! Please keep voting and commenting, it honestly means so much to me to see that you're enjoying what I've written! Hope you liked the chapter and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Much love

xxx