Mourning

Janice inhaled and let it out slowly as she walked the small distance between where she had tied her Mare to the spot where Jules was.
She had thought 'the haven' was hers until Jeremy said it was Jules'. Also, that he had initially built it to visit there during his withdrawal days.
Janice let out a deep breath again when she sighted Jules slouched on a bench that was situated in the middle of the garden.
She hadn't noticed the bench before until now. Perhaps, he had hidden it from sight and brought it out whenever he needed it.
She glimpsed a bottle of whisky with him as she stepped closer.
"What are you doing here, Madame?"
Startled, Janice lurched as she heard his voice. She had thought she was quiet and careful enough while walking to his side. But he had heard her despite her tiptoeing
"How do you know it was I?"
"I can smell your vanilla scent." He mumbled, then turned.
Janice frowned as she stared at him. She noticed his eyes were red and puffy.
She hesitated as he placed the bottle of the whisky on his lips, taking another gulp from it.
He winced, shaking his head. Before, he shut his eyes.
"What is wrong?"
Jules opened his eyes slowly as he heard her voice. He noticed the stunned look on her face. He was in his vulnerable moment and she had caught him.
Also, he didn't know which was more infuriating, her disobeying his order not to ride or the fact she had seen him in the state he was in now.
"Madame, I can punish you for disobeying my orders."
Even if he didn't mind her seeing him in the state he was in at the moment, he was slightly furious she had disobeyed him. However, he had no strength left in him to berate her.
"I'm sorry, Sire," Janice responded, stepping to his side. "I don't think you are in any position to give out punishment."
Jules groaned as he felt her soft hand on his. She grabbed the almost bottle of bourbon from his hand and turned his face to hers as he tried to gaze away.
"What is the matter? Perhaps, I can help you in solving it. You know that is why I'm your wife."
"You can't do anything about it," Jules mumbled.
"At least, you should tell me first." Janice coaxed, caressing the light stubble on his cheek.
"Can you raise anyone from the dead?"
Okay, he was mourning someone. Janice mulled. Although everyone grieved in several ways, she believed Jules drinking himself to stupor wouldn't help him.
She noticed a liquid dropped in her hand and her eyes lifted to stare at the sky.
Although it was getting dark, it didn't look as though it would rain.
She stared back at Jules as she felt him cough and tremble. That was when she realized it was his tears on her palm.
She rubbed his back as he coughed more.
"Who are you mourning?" Janice asked softly.
"My ex Fiancee, Jane. She died two years ago in a fatal car crash. She was on her way to Cherview. I planned on proposing to her that day. But, I got the news she was in a crash and didn't make it out alive." He sobbed.
Janice teared up as well. Not because of the woman who was meant to be married to him by now, the woman that she was taking her position.
She was sad that her husband was in a vulnerable state and she could not help him.
Also, she felt envious of the deceased woman. Despite her death, he still loved her.
Janice had struggled to get him to feel that way for her. Though she hadn't mentioned her feelings to him yet.
Even if she had told him she loved him, she believed he wouldn't still love her the way she wanted.
"Drinking won't bring her back."
"The world is cruel," Jules replied, clutching her warm body tightly to him.
"I know darling," Janice muttered. Although she didn't know the pain of losing a loved one, since she hadn't lost any. She was sure it was equivalent to when her ex had cheated on her.
"You need to pull yourself together. You are allowed to mourn but not look wretched while doing it." She scolded, clutching his arms.
"There are no rules about mourning and you don't even know what it means to be in pain," Jules mumbled.
"I do," Janice said, rolling her eyes. She let him rest his weight on her even though he was heftier.
She just needed to get him out of the garden.
She sighed as soon as the horse got to the castle gate. Luckily, it was already dark and people were barely outside. Also, Jeremy was at the entrance because she had called him to talk about the development at hand.
"I never knew he was going there to mourn her." Jeremy grimaced. "I think I'm the worst brother ever since I barely knew what was bothering him and had not bothered to follow up."
"I believe it is not your fault. If you had known earlier, I'm sure you would have helped him with it."
"Perhaps." He rasped. "I'm glad he's okay anyway."
Janice nodded, with a small smile. "I am too."
"You need to rest." Jeremy nudged her towards the entrance of the room. "Just call if you need any help, okay?"
"Thank you, Jeremy." Janice smiled. 
Jeremy returned the smile, then walked towards his room which was beside the room Janice stood in.
★★★
Janice walked to the foot of the bed. The bed dipped as she sat on it. She began to caress Jules' lustrous hair and he groaned, mumbling in his sleep.
She wondered what he was talking about. But, she could make out a name.
Jane
She sighed, whilst patting the upper half of his body. "I hope you can love me as much as you love your dead fiancee."