Chapter Forty-Three
Her eyes thoroughly accustomed to the darkness, Venetia listened to the few remaining leaves rustling on the tree branches above and around her.
There was no more than a faint stir of wind on the frigid night air, but it was enough to create a muted swish and rustle.
The familiarity of the sound was a soothing comfort to her.
Directly in front of Venetia and where she had often sat in the clearing while Bon-Bon enjoyed himself sniffing and snooping, was where he now lay in the ground.
The place was easy to spot as Cassie and Nina had done their best to ensure the hole was not only deep but well earthed up and covered with a thick blanket of leaves and twigs.
Twenty-four hours had passed since her darling dog had been taken from her and the pain of his death was still excruciatingly raw to her.
She knew from the many moments of loss and heartache in her life, the worst of the pain would eventually lessen, but there would always be a scar left. And the memories. Good and bad.
She rarely cried but she had wept copiously for Bon-Bon. She was conscious that she wasn’t just mourning the loss of her precious dog; she was grieving for so much more, the loss of the years that were gone and everything that never had been, and never would be.
Once again, the tears flowed freely down her cheeks and as the sound of the rustling leaves intensified around her, it seemed that it was the murmur of ghostly voices from the past calling to her.