CH 90

At his question, Madel scurried towards him and held out a coat which she had spent several nights sewing. She had decided on her own to make a coat for Elena, as the woman’s thin coat kept coming to her mind and she felt that she had to do something to make up for what had happened. Giggs had noticed Madel sewing one night while wearing a regretful expression with tears in her eyes and had mentioned a fox that he had caught not long ago. Madel had decided to use the fur for the coat and was skinning the fox the next night. That was when Gareth saw her and learned of her intentions.

“Good work, Madel,” Gareth said softly as he took the coat from her.

“My lord… This is all my fault. I’ll…”

“Stop.” Gareth didn’t listen to Madel, since he knew what she was trying to say. In fact, Giggs had already gathered the villagers as well as Madel a few days ago with an angry expression and had spit out vulgar words at them for how they had treated Elena. Gareth hadn’t been aware of the rumors circulating around his estate, and decided that that was his fault as well. He was the one who had allowed the people to treat Elena with disrespect.

“Where will you go with Lady Elena? Do I need to prepare anything else?”

Gareth was walking away from Madel when he heard her say ‘Lady Elena’ and stopped. Realizing the very thing that led to this terrible situation, he looked back at Madel and said, “Madel, call her madam. She’s my wife.”

* * *

Gareth helped Elena sit up in bed, then knelt in front of her to help her put on some warm, soft socks that went up to her thighs. He then firmly closed the collar of her dress to keep the cold wind out, and finally helped her put on the new fur coat.

“You must have been bored here. Let’s go out for a walk,” Gareth suggested. However, Elena’s green eyes, which had become dull and lifeless, only stared back at him vacantly. Gareth smiled faintly and placed a fur hat on her head. He then lifted her into his arms.

Servants and maids as well as some of Gareth’s men who were in the hall casually raised their heads towards the second floor when they heard Gareth descend the stairs. They doubted their eyes when they saw Elena in Gareth’s arms. Giggs’ mouth was agape in astonishment at the sight. He had heard that Gareth had been taking care of Elena this whole time, but he hadn’t expected the sight before him. The woman was tightly wrapped up in innumerable layers of clothing; it seemed that she was ready to roll around in the snow for days.

“Giggs, get my horse ready,” Gareth ordered at that moment.

“Yes, sir.” Giggs answered before rushing to the stables. He could feel his heart beating strangely for some reason, perhaps it was because he had seen Elena for the first time in a long time or because he had witnessed his boss’ show of affection towards her. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand as he made his way to the stables.

* * *

Gareth placed Elena in front of him on the horse and hugged her close to him to keep her safe as he wandered slowly around the estate as if taking a leisurely walk. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth.

“When I was a kid, my father made me a wooden horse to play with. I was playing around on the wooden horse and ended up falling down that hill and broke my arm. That was the first time I had ever used the horse, but my surprised father took the horse away from me and never let me see it again.”