Slumber

The Rowlington siblings as well as four concerned people, headed back to the residence. Brandon looking anxious on the ride back.

Molly was watching as Elmer chewed on the nail of his thumb, his icy blue eyes starring out of the carriage window. She hated how cold he seemed, wondering why he was that way when none of the siblings were as angry as he seemed to be.

The ride was quiet and far to long for those who sat in the carriage, the bouncing of the horses the only time most really moved and frankly the only sound that was heard was the hooves.

Finally they have arrived to the Rowlington home. Brandon being one of the first ones out. The group rushing through the house as Louis tried to keep up with them.

Josephine laid in bed, her eyes closed and her breathing soft, edging on shallow. Thomas sat beside her, a exhausted look on his face as he has barely slept with her in this condition. He gently spooned soup from the bowl into her parted lips, making sure she stayed as well as possible.

His head lifting slightly to look at the door as it opened. Charles looking at the normally lively and laughing boy, his eyes held a sadness he didn't think was possible. "Tommy.." he whispered softly, almost pityingly but he didn't want Thomas to think he felt sorry for him in that manner.

Brandon moved past the lot to get to Josephine's side, she looked so peaceful yet almost a dreadful sight to see her not moving, not rolling her eyes and picking a argument with one of the members of the ton.

"Josie?" He whispered softly to her as he brushed some of her hair back away from her face. He didn't understand why it hurt to not have her slap his hand away and scowl at him like she normally would... probably because that would have meant she was okay.

"She's never slept this long...I'll make sure to tell her,you have all stopped by.' Thomas said as he sat up straighter, keeping his voice even and keeping his face blank.

"If she wakes up we will need everyone here to keep a eye on her. It is obviously getting worse whatever it is that is wrong with her." Louis said as he looked at his sister, laid out like a corpse for viewing. Estella's eyes soft as she looked at the eldest brother before the widened in shock as Louis was pushed back harshly.

"Do not dare to say such a cruel word like if, WHEN she wakes up I shall make sure no harm befalls her. I never want to hear you say such a cruel word towards my sister ever again." Elmer said with anger in his eyes. That's when it clicked for Molly. Elmer wasn't a cold, angry boy, he was just not sure how to fell for those he loves. He loved Josephine deeply and would fight for her any chance he got; no one would harm his sister.

Louis couldn't be mad at how Elmer reacted. 'Elmer, I understand that has made you angry but we must be prepared for any outcome. She may pull through." He said in a calm tone.

Ida had walked into the room at that point,not even taking note of the four others besides her children as she looked at Josephine. "She most likely will not rise." She said in a far away voice.

"What does that mean?" Louis asked as everyone's attention went to the mother. She looked towards her eldest son. "My sister had something like this, once her symptoms started she lived four more years before passing.."

"You knew this and yet when Josephine showed symptoms you sent her to that school?" Elmer growled almost animalisticly. His eyes cold and narrowed. Molly's jaw dropping slack at this information.

Ida seemed to snap out of her distant mood as she gave the boy a look. "I did not think she would have lived this long."
"And you still made her leave?! She needed her family, not to be abused because she was different!" Elmer yelled at the woman. Thomas was shocked at this.

His face numb as tears fell from his eyes, knowing his mother tried to take his sister away from him for good. "Mom?" His voice sounded weaker then he would have liked making not only Charles hurt but made Brandon even more angry then before.

"I did not want her to die in the house with this family." Ida said it in a way which to make it sound logical, like a obvious choice but in reality the woman just didn't want to deal with her.

Louis's eyes grew dark as he stalked towards the woman. "How dare you do that to her? You know she hates being alone and you wanted her to be completely alone and helpless in her last moments because you didn't want her here? Well you don't have to worry about that anymore, Ida. As soon as I marry you will be moving out into a dowager house, away from this family and I will be taking over the social season for my siblings and you will be cut off from the family in everything but funds."

Ida stared at him with shock in her eyes. "You can't do that.." A chill ran through her as Louis laughed. The darkness drawing Estella in even more. "I am the Lord Rowlington, I can do that if I wish..is there anything else you have been hiding from us?" He asked as Clara even moved away from Ida, going to stand behind her brother.

Ida's eyes cut over towards Elmer, making Louis look over at him. The blond looked confused by that as he stared down the woman he called mother. "Mer, do you know what she means?" Louis asked in a gentler voice then what he used with Ida.

The boy shook his head. "No.." he trailed off nervously but he spoke the truth. He wanted to know but at the same time he didn't want his world to crumble anymore. He just wanted Josephine to wake up and tell him she was alright.

"What does Elmer have to do with your secrets?" Clara asked as she looked at Ida the woman remaining silent. "Speak woman!" Louis barked the order making Molly flinch slightly. Estella stunned but now she knew, he was telling the truth; he was different when protecting his family, scary when angry.

"Elmer...is a...he is a bastard." Ida said with a sigh. It felt like all the air left Elmer's body at those words, he stared blankly at the woman before he turned away and walked towards the bed where Josephine laid.

Louis watched his brother, more broken then he's ever seen the blonde, pull Josephine to him as he cradled their sister. "He is more our brother then you are our mother. He stands up for us, he is always there when he's needed and when he is not. Elmer  cares for Josephine,Clara, Thomas. He finds ways to make his family smile but you? You send away your daughter, you treat Elmer different just because he isn't your blood. You are a cold woman and I cannot wait to be rid of you. Now get out,you are no longer welcome in here." Louis hissed.

The woman held herself up straight before walking out, pulling the door closed behind her. The eldest woman thinking she was doing right, that the cruelty she has shown was justified, but didn't most villains think themselves the hero?

Estella moved towards Louis's side, placing her hand against his arm. "I am so sorry." She spoke in a almost whisper so only he would hear her. His eyes turning towards her. "It is for the best to have her out of this.."

Brandon felt different know that he knew the mysterious illness could possibly take Josephine's life. He looked at the girl who resembled a marionette with the strings cut, cradled against Elmer.

"She will be alright." Molly said softly as she looked at the boys in the room, not just Josephine's siblings. She wanted then to think of the best and not the worst, to think of the times they have been blessed with her smile or even her scowl. The very gleam in her eyes when she was doing something downright scandalous seemed such a bright light now.

"She must be, I am unsure i could be alright without her." Thomas spoke as he looked at his partner in crime, the other part of the boy laid there.  "She always would speak so poeticly about everything, even the tiny mouse that would chew through her curtain. Yet I see no poety here, only a insufferable amount of heartache and pain."

"Yet I can hear her voice, "Ah but you see, brother, that is the poetry. Not beautiful words to admire but ones that make you feel. Pain is poetry"." Brandon said as he looked at her. Louis looking at his closest friend, hearing how he spoke about Josephine even after seeing her flaws and limitations, showed Louis that his intentions with his sister wear true and good. 

"She would, wouldn't she?" Elmer forced a soft smile. Molly moving to stand closer to the boy, to provide any amount of comfort that she could in this moment. To help their family. She looked around and noticed the friends that they had gained. The way that Charles stood by Thomas, trying to make sure that he knew he was there for him. Estella's hand resting gently upon Louis's arm, and to see the eldest brother not move away was shocking to the girl who grew up with them.

But noting shocked her more then seeing Elmer feel so deeply in this moment, even when their father died he hardly showed any emotion, finding some way to brush it aside and took to drinking.

Louis walked up to Brandon seeing how intent he looked at Josephine. "I should think it wise if you stayed here..help look after her and make sure Ida doenst try to come in here.  I can have the guest room set up for you." He said without looking over towrads the other man. Brandon  however did look towards his friend.

"You truly mean that?" He asked shocked as he finally gained Louis's attention. The Rowlington man standing up straighter. "I do after all you are a friend not only to me but to her as well. She trusts you." Louis smiled a bit before he gave one last lingering look to Josephine before walking out of the room to have the guest room set up.