December 31st, 1889 — Rigel Hall, Cumbria
Like a dying animal Ursula had retreated to the country house a few days earlier. There was something romantic about dying in a country house in the middle of winter, rather than in the festering muck of London. The romanticism had yet to materialize though. The house seemed cold and sterile and very empty and just getting herself there had been incredibly taxing.
It was the first day since traveling that she felt she had enough energy to do anything and rather morosely she decided to torture herself by looking at the dresses she kept in storage at the country house. Ursula ran her hands over velvets and silks and lace that she'd never wear again and consequently made herself cry a little. What she would give to go back in time and tell Phineas 'not tonight'.
It didn't take her long to grow tired of making herself miserable, not to mention she had clearly overexerted herself for she was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Before she could leave, however, she spotted the edge of a box that she didn't recognize at the back of her closet, buried beneath some hat boxes. With incredible difficulty she got to her knees and prized it out. What was it? The box itself was handsome so the contents must be even more so. Lifting off the lid, she unwrapped the first layer of tissue paper and then froze.
It was her wedding dress. How could it be her wedding dress?! Hadn't she lost it in the fire? How could it be here? When had she asked for it to be removed from the Wellingtonshire house? Ursula felt a familiar twinge and suddenly she was reminded of her sister-in-law's dream from a few weeks ago. She let out a blood-curdling scream and dissolved into violent hysterics. "Ella! Ella, come quick, where are you, Ella!" Her voice cracked as the sobbing started. It was no coincidence, she hadn't believed in those for months, this was an omen of death staring her in the face. A dress that shouldn't be, and now the child... "ELLA!" She was in the house wasn't she? She hadn't gone out somewhere and left her alone?
It was the first day since traveling that she felt she had enough energy to do anything and rather morosely she decided to torture herself by looking at the dresses she kept in storage at the country house. Ursula ran her hands over velvets and silks and lace that she'd never wear again and consequently made herself cry a little. What she would give to go back in time and tell Phineas 'not tonight'.
It didn't take her long to grow tired of making herself miserable, not to mention she had clearly overexerted herself for she was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Before she could leave, however, she spotted the edge of a box that she didn't recognize at the back of her closet, buried beneath some hat boxes. With incredible difficulty she got to her knees and prized it out. What was it? The box itself was handsome so the contents must be even more so. Lifting off the lid, she unwrapped the first layer of tissue paper and then froze.
It was her wedding dress. How could it be her wedding dress?! Hadn't she lost it in the fire? How could it be here? When had she asked for it to be removed from the Wellingtonshire house? Ursula felt a familiar twinge and suddenly she was reminded of her sister-in-law's dream from a few weeks ago. She let out a blood-curdling scream and dissolved into violent hysterics. "Ella! Ella, come quick, where are you, Ella!" Her voice cracked as the sobbing started. It was no coincidence, she hadn't believed in those for months, this was an omen of death staring her in the face. A dress that shouldn't be, and now the child... "ELLA!" She was in the house wasn't she? She hadn't gone out somewhere and left her alone?
