Lord Blackwood Promised Me Death — Chapter 14

AH.

OH DEAR, IT'S TIME FOR MY NEXT HOUSE CALL...

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

WELL, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? JUST STAND HERE WATCHING A LADY CRY?

YOU’RE THE ONE WHO MADE HER CRY, SO DEAL WITH IT!

I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN TWO MY LADY!

THOMAS!

I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT COMFORTING PEOPLE MYSELF.

...WOULD YOU LIKE A HANDKERCHIEF?

......NO, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

I'VE SHOWN YOU A RATHER EMBARRASSING SIDE OF MYSELF.

THERE'S NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE.

SHE BEHAVED AS THOUGH SHE WERE DEVOID OF EMOTION, BUT PERHAPS THAT WASN'T ENTIRELY TRUE.

...YOU. COME WITH ME, NOW.

I COULDN'T HELP IT EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT, BUT...

WANDERING AROUND THE MANSION WEARING NOTHING BUT A CHEMISE IS UTTERLY IMPROPER.

Just Grab A Shawl And Follow Me.

WHERE ON EARTH IS HE TAKING ME...?

COME INSIDE.

THERE SEEM TO BE QUITE A FEW ROSES HERE.

DO YOU LIKE THEM? THE ROSES, I MEAN.

THE GREENHOUSE'S OWNER DID.

THEY MUST HAVE TREASURED THIS GREENHOUSE.

...WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SO?

TAKE A LOOK HERE.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHITE MOLD USUALLY USUALLY GROWS AROUND THE BASE OF ROSE BUSHES.

BUT THE STEMS OF THE ROSES IN THIS GREENHOUSE ARE PERFECTLY CLEAN,

AND THE GRASS AND SOIL ARE KEPT JUST MOIST ENOUGH TO REMAIN SOFT.

IT WOULD TAKE CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GLASS CEILING PANELS EVERY HOUR AND AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF CARE

TO CULTIVATE FLOWERS THIS BEAUTIFUL IN A GREENHOUSE.

I SEE...

MOTHER...

ROSES ARE VERY DELICATE FLOWERS, WILLIAM.

EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CHILL CAN FREEZE THEM,

AND IF YOU RUSH THEM EVEN A LITTLE, THEY WON'T BLOOM.

PEOPLE ARE MUCH LIKE THESE ROSES.

NO MATTER HOW COLD AND UNFORGIVING THE WORLD BECOMES, JUST LIKE WINTER,

SPRING WILL ALWAYS COME AGAIN,

AND SOMETIMES, ALL IT TAKES IS THE DEEP LOVE OF ANOTHER PERSON

TO GIVE SOMEONE THE THE STRENGTH TO BLOOM.

IT'S THE KIND OF MAGIC THAT ALLOWS SOMEONE WHO WAS MERELY BREATHING

IT'S THE KIND OF MAGIC THAT ALLOWS SOMEONE WHO WAS MERELY BREATHING TO FINALLY BEGIN LIVING.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

...I'D FORGOTTEN.

WELL, IT WAS AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT FROM HER HUSBAND, SO OF COURSE SHE CHERISHED IT.

BESIDES, SAVE YOUR COMPLIMENTS FOR JAMES.

EVER SINCE MOTHER PASSED AWAY, THE OLD MAN HAS BEEN LOOKING AFTER THIS GREENHOUSE ALL BY HIMSELF.

SO THIS REALLY WAS THE DUCHESS'S GREENHOUSE.

THEN I'LL INFORM THE BUTLER.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TELL HIM?

JUST SIT DOWN ALREADY, MY LADY.

MY THROAT IS PARCHED.

IF YOU WERE THAT THIRSTY, YOU COULD'VE SIMPLY ASKED SOMEONE TO BRING TEA TO YOUR ROOM.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE TROUBLE OF COMING HERE TO THE GREENHOUSE...

OH, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!

STOP COMPLAINING AND DRINK WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

WHAT AN EXHAUSTING MAN.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU PROPER TABLE MANNERS YOU KNOW?

BUT I DOUBT WE'LL BE DRINKING TEA AT A BALL.

...OF COURSE YOU'D SAY THAT.

AS PRICKLY AS EVER.

THANKS TO HER, MY THROAT REALLY IS DRY.

I'LL POUR THE MILK FIR—

PLEASE POUR THE TEA FIRST.

THE TEACUPS IN HOUSE BLACKWOOD ARE ALL MADE OF FINE BONE CHINA, AFTER ALL.

AND?

POURING THE MILK FIRST IS ONLY CUSTOMARY WHEN THE PORCELAIN IS OF POOR QUALITY

AND MIGHT CRACK FROM THE HEAT OF OF THE TEA.

...I KNEW THAT ALREADY.

ALL RIGHT.

...DAMN IT.

AND THE SUGAR—

...HOW MANY CUBES WOULD YOU LIKE?

JUST ONE.

I ONLY SLIPPED UP FOR A MOMENT.

I'VE SPENT FIFTEEN YEARS DEFENDING THE NATION, AFTER ALL.

YOU SHOULDN'T LIFT THE SAUCER WHEN DRINKING TEA WHILE SEATED.

UGH.

IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN MOTHER FIRST TAUGHT ME TABLE MANNERS.

WAS SHE STRICT WITH YOU?

I WOULDN'T EXACTLY CALL HER STRICT... SHE JUST KEPT MAKING ME REPEAT EVERYTHING UNTIL I GOT IT RIGHT.

SHE'D SAY I HAD SET THE SAUCER DOWN TOO NOISILY,

OR THAT MY SPOON HAD CLINKED AGAINST TEACUP, THINGS LIKE THAT.

RESTING ONE'S FOREHEAD ON ONE'S HAND DURING TEA IS ALSO CONSIDERED POOR ETIQUETTE,

BUT THERE'S NO NEED TO MENTION THAT.

THE SOFT WARMTH OF THE SUNLIGHT,

THE DELICATE FRAGRANCE OF ROSES,

THE BERGAMOT AROMA OF TEA BLENDING WITH MILK,

AND THE SOUND OF WILLOW LEAVES SWAYING IN THE BREEZE.

THE HEAVY PRESSURE CONSTRICTING MY CHEST BEGINS TO FADE AWAY.

TO A TIME WHEN I HADN'T LOST ANYTHING AT ALL.

IT FEELS AS THOUGH I'VE RETURNED

AND?

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ENTITLED TO HAPPINESS ALL BY YOURSELF?

JUST BECAUSE THE YOUNG DUKE PAID OFF YOUR DEBTS,

DO YOU THINK THAT ABSOLVED YOU OF YOUR SINS?

...COULD I...

THE DEATH THAT MADE MY SURVIVAL POSSIBLE...

AS IF I COULD EVER FORGET.

IS THERE A BUG OR SOMETHING?

...I THOUGHT A TEA LEAF HAD FALLEN INTO THE CUP.

YOU’RE STILL—

I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY.

!?

I'LL FALL—

AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE I WENT THROUGH TO BRING YOU HERE...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE RUNNING AWAY.