Marrying her Best-Friend - Fiona Miers Page 0,3
the distance, he saw Lizzie. He didn’t wish to call out to her, but instead followed her to the stable. She went inside and left the door ajar, allowing him access a few moments later.
The space was dark, but numerous beams of bright moonlight shone through the openings of the loft, illuminating the inside in its silver light. Carson stepped inside and immediately noticed Lizzie seated on a bale of hay. The expression on her beautiful face was sad as she glanced down at the open bottle of wine. Her shoulders were slumped and there was an air of defeat about her that he could not reconcile with the Lizzie he knew.
As he took a step closer, the door banged behind him. He froze, and Lizzie glanced up at him.
Carson held his hands up apologetically. “My apologies, my lady.”
“No need to apologize.” Lizzie sighed. “What are you doing here, Carson?”
“It appears formalities have left us,” Carson grinned.
“It is only for appearances, you know that,” Lizzie said. “We passed formalities a long while ago.”
“We left them behind as soon as you threw me in the pond,” Carson pointed out.
“You threw an innocent frog at me,” Lizzie defended, sitting up straighter.
“Perhaps your actions were justified then.” Carson chuckled. “May I join you?”
“You went to all the trouble to follow me here, so you may as well take a seat.” Lizzie shrugged as she took a sip of wine from the bottle.
Carson approached the bale of hay and as he sat down beside Lizzie, she passed the bottle to him. He took it from her and sipped from the opening, then cringed at the bitter taste of the beverage. “Couldn’t you have chosen a better-tasting wine?”
“You ought to be grateful I am sharing it with you,” Lizzie countered, and playfully slapped him on the arm as she took back her bottle. “Why did you follow me?”
“I noticed your encounter with Lady Margaret, and I wanted to see if you were all right,” Carson answered.
“I am perfectly well. Margaret is a silly and foolish woman who doesn’t know anything about anything,” Lizzie answered. “I am well.”
Carson nodded and glanced around him, not believing her for one moment. “Which is why you retreated to the stables in a cloud of dust with an entire bottle of wine.”
“It was rather theatrical of me, was it not?” Lizzie cringed.
Carson smiled encouragingly at her, wanting more information.
“But I’m all right, Carson. I don’t understand why people relish the idea of spreading rumours about someone, especially when they are false. It is uncouth and hurtful,” Lizzie answered.
He didn’t have a good answer for that. “Margaret is a foolish woman, as you said.”
Lizzie sighed and shook her head. “It is not only her. Lord Dorset was the one who started it all, spreading lies about the two of us. Who in their sober minds would do such a terrible thing?”
Carson watched as Lizzie drank from the wine bottle for a few moments, then took it from her. “Men such as Dorset need to tell tales to make them feel better about themselves. He feels the need to belittle and degrade others to make himself seem superior. It is ego, which is a dangerous problem to have because it can ruin lives, as my you are already aware, my lady. You must always remember when it comes to people like Dorset, you are not the problem, Lizzie. He is.”
Lizzie glanced him with a hint of a smile and cocked her head. “Carson, you will never truly grasp how much you mean to me.”
“I can say the same thing of you, my lady,” Carson said in response, trying to remain calm though his pulse began to race.
Lizzie glanced at him and a smile slowly formed on her lips. “I prefer you addressing me as Lizzie.”
“As do I,” Carson agreed and took another swig of wine. “This is ghastly.”
“Please do stop complaining,” Lizzie scoffed, “or I will be forced to take it from you.”
“Be my guest.” Carson chuckled and handed the bottle back to her.
A short silence filled the stable, which was broken by Lizzie’s soft sigh. “Carson, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course. You may ask me anything you wish.”
“Do you feel out of place at times? As if everyone in the entire world is carrying on with their lives and you are left behind? As if you have not accomplished anything meaningful in your life?” Lizzie asked, her tone sombre and her eyes dulled with sadness.
“I feel that way quite