The man frowned, obviously not liking Connor’s response. “Then where am I to go?”
Connor shrugged. “Not my problem.”
“You are having a house party. Surely you must have room for one more. I’ll join you.”
“Not on your life,” Eden replied before Connor had the chance to open his mouth. “Mama is already there and disrupting everyone’s enjoyment with her typical flair for the dramatic.”
“Then send her here and I will go in her place.”
Eden sighed. “Oh, she will love that. No. I am not replacing one unruly parent with another.”
“Why do you always take her side? You are as much my child as hers. Have I not always been kinder to you than she has been?”
“Actually, you have both been abysmal.” She stopped packing his things and turned to him. “The two of you are the most irresponsible people in existence. Need I remind you how many times you and Mama forgot me at school? Forgot me at end of term. Forgot me at holiday breaks. Forgot me when parents were invited for special family events.”
“It could not have been all that often, Eden. We just mixed up our schedules at times, that’s all. You know how we try to have as little contact as possible with each other. She thought it was my turn when I thought it was hers. Innocent mistakes. That is all.”
“Yes, make your excuses. But do not even once think to apologize to me for leaving me to wander the school halls alone, and do not bother to show any remorse for all the times I was shoved into a mail coach and left to make my own way to our London townhouse, hoping against hope someone would be there to let me in.”
She turned to Connor, her expression raw and anguished as she struggled to hold back her tears. “See? Neither of them ever cared. Do you see a scintilla of remorse on that man’s face? All he is thinking about is how long he must stay quiet and enduremyoutburst.”
Connor reached out to comfort her, but she shook her head and began to unpack her father’s belongings that she had just tossed into the valise. “Fine, stay here. But I shall advise Evansnotto send word to me if you take a turn for the worse. Nor do I care if you take your last breath. He may, however, send word to me once you are gone.Afteryou’ve gone. Whether by carriage on your own two feet or by coffin is of no concern to me.”
Her father’s mouth gaped open. “Eden!”
“Do not dare feign hurt or outrage. I know you are just faking. What a dense child I was, always convincing myself that you and Mama cared, that you would surprise me one day and take me from school, hugging and kissing me, and telling me how much you missed me as we rode in your elegant coach back to London. But no, it never happened. There’s no need for politeness between us anymore, no need for tearful farewells. You will never shed a tear for me, so I refuse to shed a tear for you.”
But softhearted Eden looked as though she was about to burst into tears. She let out a brief, curt sob and a few sniffles.
“Eden.” Connor wanted to wrap her in his arms and just keep holding her.
“No, I’m fine.”
She did not look it. In truth, she tore at his heart.
“Excuse me, Connor. I need a breath of air to compose myself.”
He let her go and listened to her soft footsteps hurrying down the stairs before he turned to her father. “If you have a problem, send word directly to me. I will attend to it. You are done manipulating Eden.”
That said, he followed after her.
She had run outside and was standing beside his brougham. “Eden…”
She cast him a shaky smile as he approached. “I’m all right. Just a few tears. Not so bad. I will compose myself in a moment.”
“Take all the time you need,” he said gently.
“No, I’m good. Just feeling their antics acutely at present. And what of me? I am such a soft touch. I had him packed up and found I could not send him packing after all. What is wrong with me that I allow them to walk all over my heart?”
There was not the slightest thing wrong with her. In truth, she was a marvel because she had turned all the hurt she hadendured throughout the years into compassion and not a trace of bitterness.
This made him ache worse, for someone as good as this girl deserved all the happiness in the world. She deserved to be around those who would love and respect her.
He helped her back into his carriage. “Eden, I think it is time for things to change.”
She dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief as she smiled at him. “Oh, I am so ready for change. I just don’t know how to go about it.”
“I have been giving your situation plenty of thought. I think I know a way to make some changes that I think you will like.”
