The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 08

The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 08

Aveline’s room was quiet.

Two maids were changing the linens when Bram walked in. At the sight of him, they froze and lowered their heads.

He looked around the room but did not see the familiar figure he expected.

“Where is Mrs. Caulfield?”

The housekeeper in front froze, then answered carefully, “Sir… isn’t she still locked in the chapel?”

Bram drew in a slow breath, forcing down the strange panic rising in his chest.

His voice darkened. “Where’s Sorrel? Bring her to me.”

The women exchanged nervous looks. One of them hurried off.

Before long, Sorrel came in with her head lowered. She stopped a few feet away and stood still, hands folded in front of her.

Bram stared at her.

“Where did Aveline go?”

Sorrel did not look up.

“I don’t know, sir.”

“You were her maid,” Bram snapped. “She vanished from a locked chapel, and you expect me to believe you know nothing?”

Sorrel stayed silent for a moment.

Then she lifted her head. Her eyes were red, but her voice did not shake.

“I truly don’t know. But Miss Rook asked me to give you a message.”

Bram’s chest tightened. A bad feeling surged up so fast he barely noticed what Sorrel had called her.

“What message?”

Sorrel lowered her eyes and said each word clearly.

“Miss Rook said that since the marriage license was never filed, it was never valid.”

“She said whatever bond you thought you had with her ends here. Don’t look for her. From now on, you go your way, and she’ll go hers.”

The color drained from Bram’s face.

He stood there as if someone had thrown ice water over him. The cold spread through his limbs, down to the bone.

The license was never filed.

She knew.

When had she found out?

His voice came out rough.

“When did she know?”

Sorrel looked at him, something unreadable in her eyes.

“Three days after you made her lose the baby, Miss Rook went to the town courthouse to file for an annulment.”

Bram swayed slightly.

His voice turned dry. “Did she say why? Was it because of the baby?”

“I don’t know. I only know the first thing she did after waking up was go looking for you. She wanted to explain.”

That was when Thorne had come.

That was when Bram and Thorne had spoken in the yard.

She had heard everything.

Bram stumbled back a step and caught himself against the porch column. His fingers clenched so hard they turned white.

Sorrel looked at him for a moment, then said nothing more. She gave a small bow and left.

Bram stood alone in the room for a long time.

Dusk settled over the estate. The housekeepers came through one by one and turned on the lamps.

Warm yellow light filled the windows, but the room was empty.

No one was waiting for him.

He pushed open the bedroom door and walked inside.

Her makeup still sat on the vanity. Her clothes still hung in the closet. Everything looked as if she had only stepped out for a walk and would be back any minute.

But he knew she would not come back.

His eyes fell on the small box beside the bed.

It was Aveline’s box.

She had never let him touch it. She always said it held private things. He used to tease her and ask to see, and she would blush, hide it behind her back, and refuse no matter what.

Bram walked over and lifted the lid.

Inside were small, scattered keepsakes.

A silver comb he had carved for her by hand.

A sheet of paper from the first time he taught her to write her name.

At the very bottom lay a folded letter.

There was no name on the front.

He pulled it out and opened it.