Ruth was just finishing her work for the day, an unopened missive in her apron pocket. She had left Jacob with Pearl for the week so she could take time to herself. She missed him but she wanted very much for him to get to fall in love with his aunt's and uncles, and Pearl insisted she take care of the boy.

After carefully putting things away, she headed into the hallway. She pulled the letter out and finally looked at it and then realized she recognized the name as the one who was hired by Edward's family. Taking a deep breath, she slowed to a hault and then carefully opened up the missive.

She started to read, then put her hand over her suddenly fast heartbeat as the words jumped out at her... Bigomy.... She was never Angus' wife in truth.... He'd married more than a handful of women in order to procure funds... He had only used her.

Part of her wanted to feel so very angry at the snake of a man, but she was giddy with relief and dare she feel, joy? She was gasping and laughing, and sobbing, but mostly laughing.

It was then that she took off at a brisk pace, letter clutched tightly in her shaking hand. She found the library and didn't knock, she never needed to anymore... If he was in there, he was in there, or he was in the garden, or somewhere. She would find the man and ignore anyone who asked questions.

The moment she found him, she gasped his name, "Edward, you must see this..." and offered the wrinkled paper. And wherever he was found, she still sunk to her butt, covered her face and wept.

Edward was in the library, looking up from the book he was reading as Ruth entered. "What is it?" He came to his feet a slight expression of concern on his features as he could tell she was overwrought. Accepting the letter he didn't read it right away since she'd sunk to the ground. He followed her wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he held the letter with his free hand reading over the contents.

"Oh, this is a good thing. The marriage has been annulled so he has no claim over you."

It struck him then that perhaps she was crying tears of joy and not anguish as he'd first assumed. But he'd been ill-prepared for an overwrought Ruth. "Congratulations, how do you feel?"

She sobbed for a few minutes, unable to speak. She did lean into him without thought. His presence brought her comfort. There were all kinds of emotions rolling through her, a mix of joy and anger and sadness, joy she could marry someone else, she could move on... Sadness for all of his children including hers, and anger for Jacob especially who would have to deal with being treated bad by people over his birth.

Ruth took a shuddering breath and wiped at her wet face. "I don't know yet.... He hurt me... But he hurt Jacob more."

She looked at her friend, her dark eyes tired as they took the sight of his face in. She found herself unable to look away with all the emotions running rampant within her. It was without thought that she found herself closing the small gap if space between them because she needed a moment to rest her head.

She felt dizzy and giddy.

Edward guided her head to his shoulder so she could rest against it. He could understand why she felt so overwhelmed about the news. Being freed from the man was good but it also made her son a bastard, a stigma that would be painful for the boy as he grew older if it was put in to the hands of the wrong sort.

"He hurt many people and he's finally paying for it. That's all we could hope for. I'll do whatever I can for Jacob, he is the sweetest boy I've had the pleasure of knowing and he deserves a good life."

All children did really but Edward couldn't help every child. He could, however, help this one and he'd do so. Not just because of his fondness for the lad but because he was quite fond of Ruth as well. Both of them deserved a better life than what they'd experienced with the shadow of Angus hovering over the pair.

She leaned into him and quietly cried for a time, her relief palpable. It was a good ten minutes before she slowed, and another five for hiccups. Then she relaxed, easing against his form as if she was meant to fit in his arms.

Eventually she lifted her head, her wet eyes focused on his face. They froze when they lifted to his and, even as she seemed to have been ready to speak, it was like she lost the words.

Her throat felt thick with a whirlwind of emotions. She was free. She was free to feel what she felt, to love someone that wasn't Angus in such a way that it hurt in a good way. She did not move, there was no kiss coming, just her eyes on his. And finally she spoke, her voice ragged and soft, "It's finally over..."