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Seasons of Change Page 23

Returning to Anne’s house with Dr. Tennant almost killed Dominic. After arriving at the doctor’s house and relaying what had happened, he wanted nothing more than to turn around and fly directly to Anne’s side. The doctor, however, had noticed he didn’t have transportation and offered to take him to the Tyler’s house in his own carriage. Dominic had no choice but to accept since he would never be able to explain arriving there before the doctor.

If Dr. Tennant was curious about Dominic’s reappearance in Halcyon, he didn’t show it. Dominic was beyond anxious when they finally arrived at the house. Elizabeth must have been listening for their arrival, for she was descending the stairs when they entered. Her expression told Dominic all he needed to know. Anne was not doing well.

“Where is she?” he asked.

The doctor cast a speculative glance at him, but Dominic ignored it. He no longer cared who knew about his and Anne’s relationship.

“She’s in papa’s bedroom since it is the only one with a fireplace.”

The doctor nodded and proceeded upstairs. Dominic started to follow, but Elizabeth moved in front of him.

“Dr. Tennant will need to examine her first,” she said.

In other words, she did not want him storming into the bedroom to see Anne. He watched Elizabeth silently as she turned to follow the doctor upstairs. Unable to believe he would have to endure yet another delay before he could finally see Anne, he sank heavily onto the steps.

He shifted through the different heartbeats in the house, searching for Anne’s. He knew William was outside. When he and the doctor arrived Dominic had detected his distinctive scent and faster than normal heartbeat right away. He picked through the heartbeats upstairs and settled on Anne’s. It was different now, slightly erratic, which worried him since it meant her body was struggling. As long as her heart beat, however, there was hope she would get better. He had to hold onto that hope. Anne couldn’t die. Not yet. It seemed like a cruel joke that just as he’d finally come to accept the fact she would never become a vampire, that he would have to cherish what little time they had together before she died, it was possible their time together was now at an end.

Impatient, he stood and began to pace. What was taking that damned doctor so long?

He heard a door open upstairs and took the stairs two at a time. Elizabeth and her father faced the doctor in the hallway with twin expressions of concern.

“How is she?” John Tyler asked.

Dominic could hear the note of defeat in the doctor’s voice when he replied.

“Her fever is high and she is very weak. Normally I’d say that given time she would get better, but Anne’s current condition ...” The doctor shook his head. “You should prepare yourselves.”

Elizabeth let out a sob. Dominic couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“You are mistaken,” he said, but his voice lacked conviction. “Anne is young and strong. She won’t ... she can’t ...” He was unable to say it.

“She was at the point of exhaustion before today. I couldn’t help but see it whenever I saw her in the village. I doubt very much she has the strength to fight this fever.”

Dominic did not stay to hear more. He moved past the doctor and into the bedroom, Elizabeth on his heels. He was vaguely aware of John and the doctor continuing to talk in the hallway, heard the doctor’s footsteps as he went downstairs. All his attention, however, was focused on Anne.

She lay, still as death, on her father’s bed, her color high from the fever. The sight hit him even harder than he’d expected. It was true. Anne was going to die. Never in his life had he felt so powerless. He’d experienced a keen sense of loss and despair when his brother had turned him, that selfish act stripping from him everyone and everything that held meaning for him. The despair he'd felt then, however, was nothing to what he felt now.

William came in and Elizabeth went into his arms. Dominic knew his friend had heard everything. William’s hearing was better than his own.

Looking down at Anne, Dominic couldn’t quiet the small voice inside him that refused to believe the truth in front of him. The voice that whispered there was a way to save her.

As though reading Dominic's mind, John Tyler spoke.

“What are you waiting for?”

Dominic shouldn’t have been surprised. It was clear, however, that both Elizabeth and William were.

“I expect you to fulfill your promise to me,” John said.

“I never promised this –”

“The hell you didn’t,” John said. “You made me believe you cared for her. You promised me you’d always keep her safe. And now, instead, I find you standing by and watching her die.”

Dominic turned to the others in the room, expecting to find understanding there. Instead he saw hope shining on Elizabeth’s face. Even William surprised him.

“No one would blame you.”

“Anne would never forgive me,” Dominic said, straining to keep his voice even.

“I don’t care,” John said, his voice rising in anger. “I stood by, helpless, while Anne’s mother died, and I refuse to stand by now and let Anne die. Not when there’s a way to save her.”

A sense of defeat, stifling in its intensity, washed over Dominic.

“I can’t,” he said. “I know what it is to have this done to you against your will. Anne’s wishes were very clear. She does not want this kind of life.”

The silence in the room was deafening.

“Get out of my house,” John Tyler said.

Dominic could see the disappointment on Elizabeth’s face. William appeared to understand. It was clear, however, that Anne’s father was beyond reason.

“I never should have given my approval. Anne’s death is at your feet. It is because of you she worked herself to the brink of death, and I hold you solely responsible for not saving her now. Get out of my sight. You are no longer welcome here.”

Every word was a stab to his heart, made more painful by the fact they were true. He’d been right to leave Halcyon that first night, all those months ago, after his sister-in-law’s ball. He never should have returned. If he hadn’t, none of this would have happened.

Dominic could not remember the last time he’d cried. Feeling the sting of tears now, he turned and left.

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