“Lily.That’s... ”
“Mama’s grave.” Lily’s voice trembled. “I want her to be here, too. She started our family.”
Violet’s throat closed and her heart dropped. When had Lily seen her mother’s grave? An awful thought struck. Had Lily seen her own grave, as well? “Tiger Lily... When did you see—”
“A long time ago.” Lily’s voice was matter-of-fact, although the glassiness of her blue eyes betrayed her suffering. “Mama’s dead. I don’t mind looking at her stone. But Iwon’tpaint mine,” she added fiercely. “I hate it. I amnotdead. I’m right here. Alive.”
“Oh, honey.” Violet pulled the child into her arms. “I’m so sorry.”
Lily latched on tight. “Papa wishes I was dead. Isn’t that why he created my stone while I was still alive?”
“No.” Violet shook her head forcefully, horrified that such an idea had ever entered Lily’s head. “Absolutely not. Your papa has loved you from the moment he first laid eyes on you. Everything he’s ever done is because he believed it was the best thing he could do for you and your future.”
Lily looked unconvinced. “That’s what he said, too. But I don’t believe him.”
She’d asked him if he wished her dead? Violet’s jaw dropped. She could not imagine such a conversation. Hearing such a brutal question from the daughter he loved above all else would have been a dagger straight to Alistair’s heart. And through Lily’s.
“I swear on everything I hold dear that your father loves you more than anything in the world.”
“How can he? Heburiedme. Right next to Mama.” Lily pulled away to stare bleakly across the room. “And then he buried me in here. I’m living in my grave. It just doesn’t have my name on it.”
“Oh, honey.”
In the privacy of her own mind, Violet cursed Alistair’s noble intentions six ways to Sunday. He only wished to protect his daughter, but... Anyone could see how Lily could feel this way, and Violet couldn’t fathom how to convince her otherwise. Undoubtedly, Alistair, too, had tried. Had spent his life trying to show his daughter how much he cared.
“He loves you,” she repeated firmly. “We both love you, and nobody wishes you were dead. I can safely say that neither one of us cares to imagine our lives without you in it. The rest of your questions should be answered by your father himself. I will mention to him it might be time for another conversation.”
Lily’s gaze slid somewhere behind Violet’s left shoulder and widened sharply.
Violet jerked around, half-expecting to find Alistair watching silently from an arm’s length away, but the chamber was bare and silent, save the sound of their breaths and the soft ticking of the clock upon the mantel.
“It’s noontime,” Lily said suddenly, turning back to her outline. “Time for your lunch break. Don’t forget to pick up books for afternoon lessons.”
“Honey, I am perfectly happy to stay and eat with you. At your new table or on the floor, whichever you prefer. The library is not nearly as important as you are.”
“I’m fine,” Lily said without turning around. “I prefer you to go.”
Violet sighed. She had learned to recognize when there was no sense arguing. “I do love you, Tiger Lily. And so does your father. Very, very much.”
Lily’s pencil continued itsskritch-skritch-skritchacross the wooden boards.
“I can see you’re busy.” Violet gazed at the back of Lily’s head, wishing there were something she could do to ease her pain. “I’ll be back in one hour.”
The relentless scratch of the pencil was her only answer.
Chapter 32
Alistair was just preparing to enter his library when incoming footsteps echoed from within the nearby catacombs. The door swung open before he could move. Within seconds, he found himself face to face with Violet... for the first time since she’d tossed him from her bedchamber.
“Oh!” She jerked to a stop, barely catching herself from plowing directly into him. “My apologies. My mind is elsewhere. I... I can come back another time.”
“Nonsense.” He smiled at her.
She did not smile back.
He was unsurprised she had no desire for his company. It was up to him to change her mind. “There’s more than enough room in the library for two people. I should like it immensely if you would stay as long as you like.”
She shook her head. “I won’t be long at all. I’m just picking something up for Lily.”
