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He didn’t need to look into the room to know Jemima lay on her back on the only piece of furniture in the room Her arms folded in peace across her chest, silent and motionless in death’s firm hold

The i so cold and alone would reht as she accepted the large goblet of brandy Edward placed in her hand in the warmth of the study She didn’t usually drink the stuff, but she needed so to hold

It was several moments before she became aware of Peter slouched half-drunk on the chaise beside her A bottle of what she presumed to be brandy held loosely in his hand

Eliza studied hi her drink on the table beside her and rising to snatch the brandy off him She stood back and watched as Peter jerked out of his alcoholic stupor and sat bolt upright, grumbled a protest at her abrupt removal of his emotional anaesthetic

“What do you think you are doing?” She stood over hi hi the offending object with distaste, she pushed Peter roughly backwards until he landed on the chaise with a thump and with a snarl, stalked towards the , lifted it and threw the bottle and contents outside Peter cursed fluidly as she slammed theback down and stalked back towards him

Her temper flared as she took in his bloodshot eyes, the ruffled unkempt hair, his once pristine shirt liberally stained with alcohol and vomit He looked a mess, but the dark emotions deep in the shadows of his tormented eyes chilled her to the bone

“There is one thing Je a fistful of his shirt and pulling it tight, drawing him forwards until they were nose-to-nose “It was a drunkard If I see you with another bottle in your hand, I’ll beat you over your stupid head with it” Her voice treer

“What the hell are you trying to do? Do you really think you will succeed in drinking yourself into an early grave too?” Her voice rose in temper but she didn’t care She are of Edward and Do no move to intervene They had the sense to stand back and let her have at him

Both men knew that Eliza needed to vent her fury and if anyone in the house was going to get Peter to stop drinking, it was going to be her Peter would never do anything to har, Peter would undoubtedly, at some point, stop

“I love her” Peter’s voice was hoarse with grief and bitter regret

“I know I do too, but drinking yourself to death isn’t going to bring her back She has gone Peter” Eliza’s voice trembled but she refused to allow the tears to fall “If you really care about her, you need to sober up and help us sort out her funeral When she is buried, you have an estate that needs your attention and people living and working there that depend on you for their livelihood You cannot fail them”

“Like I failed Je memory of his last look at her alive swam in his mind before he could quash it down

“You – didn’t – fail – Jeh clenched teeth “Nobody did If you really want to be harsh about it, Jemima could have done more to protect herself Instead, we sat there in Derby like ducks waiting to be picked off by a an found us Luckily for otyou could have done Beating yourself up about it is going to get you nowhere” She declared flatly, releasing her hold on his shirt and pushing away

“She should have coht in his chest “I would have helped her”

“I know, but don’t you see? She was trying to protect you By staying in Derby, she was as close to you as she dared be without actually seeking your help and putting you at risk” If she understood anything about the last feeeks it was her sister’s logic in the face of adversity Indeed, she had witnessed Edward bravely facing death in an effort to protect her Je the sa away from him