Journey's End (Marlbrook) (38 page)

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Laura sat alone in her private chamber
,
cloaked in feelings and surrounded by thought.  Lord Henry Marlbrook, her husband and the father of her children, had passed away this day in a dignified fashion.  The doctors had diagnosed his ailment and presented it with a name, recording in the history books his death due to pneumonia.  However, Laura had recognised the deep wounding his father’s actions had inflicted and
had
seen it compound
ed
with his own culpability.  The damage to Henry’s spirit had been too great to support.

Laura’s journal, faithful to the end, had recorded his final words
;
this the last entry of Henry in her life.

“Laura. Life with you by my side has made me a rich man.  In these my final hours, I must confess that while I make an attempt to repent I also state a contradiction.  I have never looked back on my decision to bind your hand to mine and would risk the fires of hell and eternal condemnation if I state otherwise.  I know that given the chance over, I would again curse my soul to have you.

I know you will go to him when I am gone
,
but that I have had to share your love has been no great trial.  I have been a willing partner all these years and harbour no regrets.”

Laura cried and thought her heart would break.

As with all things sensational,
gossip,
in particular
,
when deprived of food
,
withers and dies, but the harm accomplished along the way can often be measured in human lives.

CONCLUSION

Laura sat in the bridal chamber awaiting his arrival.  Her journal entry had been added in brief - the need for words had long past.

“Today, fate was at its best in the marriage of Lord Thomas Ashley and Lady Laura Marlbrook.”

Lord Thomas Ashley entered the bedchamber, and Laura gently closed the covers of her book.  Slowly
,
she raised herself from her seat.  Tonight she needed the arms of the man
with whom
she had made peace.  Thomas would help her face her tomorrows and the decisions she was sure that would bring.  She had reached her journey
’
s end.