He wanted to call her. Right from the doorway, he wanted to call her and ask where she was going, but he decided against it. She might try to twist her words if caught this early, so he wanted to watch instead. He watched her walk to the far end of the fields, her dress slightly grazing the dry stems as she moved. He didn't need to watch any further to know where she was going exactly.
The garden.
The abandoned garden near the giant walls that fenced the manor. An amused expression crept on his face as his wife continued to advance to the fence.
What did she think she was going to do when she got there?
He knew Richard had a designated gardener before he died, and even though he never worked the Estfield Gardens that much since Isabella found pleasure in doing it instead, he remained close. On their wedding day, when they were in the carriage on their way to Estfield, he remembered Juliet had asked if it had a garden, and he replied affirmatively. He had made a mental note back then to call the gardener and have him clear the overgrown hedges, but somehow, with the events of the past few days, the thought had floated away from his mind. Now that he was watching Juliet approach the walls, her grip on the garden shears solid and commanding, he couldn't help but wonder if this was her way of telling him it was taking too long. He decided to not only watch from afar but follow her instead.
Calm and trying as much as possible not to make any noise, he started to trail her. She never turned back, not even once, or she would've caught him immediately. He stopped a few yards away from her when they both got to the wall and started to watch again. Using some of the overgrown hedges as cover, he saw her walk to the vines, her hands firmly around her waist. She watched for a while and then headed to a corner. At first, he thought she had decided to give up. The work was a bit too much. When she came back, dragging a wooden ladder with her, he knew she was serious. He watched her climb the ladder with the shears in hand, ready to cut the vines from above.
That was when he could not bear just to watch her any longer. She grabbed a vine stem and reached to cut it. He interrupted her, oblivious to the consequences it would bring.
“What exactly do you think you're doing?” He called, his voice loud and shrill. He could see the shock on her face asshe lost her balance. All the color drained from his face as he watched her lose her foothold and slip from the ladder.
He did not think. He did not have the time. He did not care for his neat clothing. All he did was jump forward, his left knee digging into the dry soil. He stretched out his arms and let Juliet fall into them.
“Weston.” Juliet called, feeling her cheeks flush and her heart pound. “You saved me.”
Weston said nothing. He calmly let her find her balance one more time and watched her slowly put her feet on the ground. His eyes swept around her clothing as she stood. He examined her face and her neck.
“Let me see them.” Weston gestured to her hands, noticing she had them balled into fists.
“It is not a big—”
“Let me see your hands, Juliet.”
Feeling another wave of hot red swim up her cheeks, she opened her hands and stretched them out to him. He turned to look at them, and his heart dropped.
On her left palm was a giant cut that ran across the entire skin.
“Oh, Lord.” He whispered. Suddenly, memories of Eliza's final moments tore through his mind. Was he about to suffer the same fate again?
“It is only a cut.”
“Come along. I am taking you to see the family's physician.”
“Weston—”
“This is not up for debate. You're coming with me. I shall carry you.” Weston said and tried to reach for her legs.
Juliet stepped back in amusement and embarrassment. “You will do no such thing.”
“This is your life on the line.”
“Again, it is just a cut.”
“It is no matter. You are still coming with me.”
Weston reached for her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. His other hand grabbed her bloodied one. Juliet's heart was pounding so much she couldn't pay any mind to the pain.
“I shall have a carriage brought right across.” Weston whispered to her. She was grateful he couldn't see the tiny smile that crept onto her face after he said that.
***
Irene’s Apothecary resided only a few minutes away from the Estfield Manor. Weston gently guided Juliet out of the carriage the moment it stopped right in front of the Apothecary.
“I do not think this is necessary for just a cut.” Juliet said as Weston pulled her into the house. It smelt of frankincense and burnt flowers. Juliet couldn't tell if the smell was meant to drive people away or invite them in.
