"...and we commit his body to the ground. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
The priest's voice drifted over the cemetery, steady and practised, while Ruelle watched the ropes slacken little by little until her father's coffin disappeared into the grave. The mourning clothes she wore softly ruffled because of the breeze.
Lucian stood on one side of her, while Lachlan, Lord Azriel and Dane on the other. Behind them a few members of the courthouse were present and they were mostly acquainted with Lord Azriel or Lucian. Mrs. Belmont and Caroline were absent, as both had taken ill during the night, their bodies weakened by relentless vomiting, leaving Maude and Hailey to care for them back at the Slater mansion.
The priest stepped aside and instructed, "Please come forward and pay your last respects."
