Still, he could hardly blame her. It took time to build trust, care, and closeness. Just because she said she wanted them to try tobuild a life together didn’t mean she wanted to jump in right away.
“What do you like to spend your time doing when you aren’t working on improving the estate?” he asked as they sat there.
“I mostly work on some embroidery. It isn’t a very original hobby, but it was as close as I could get to what I truly would like to do.”
“And what was it that you wanted to do?”
She sighed, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s silly. I am content wiith my embroidery.”
“If you want to do it, I doubt it is silly.”
She shot him a look.
“Very well, even if you are right, which I don’t know that you are, and it is silly, I would like to hear it anyway.”
Veronica sighed. “Very well. When I was younger, I always wanted to make my own gown.”
“That isn’t silly. Why haven’t you done it?”
“It isn’t lady like,” she sighed. “Embroidery is fine because it’s seen as a passive art, but dressmaking is a skill I was never allowed to try my hand at.”
He hummed. “Well, you could always try it now.”
She lit up. “Do you mean that? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. Why would I? I don’t see any harm in it.”
“Then I will consider trying my hand at it. Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. I want you to be happy here.”
There was a short moment of silance then she spoke once more. “I am, you know. Happy. I was actually quite surprised by just how easily I found myself feeling relaxed and at home here. I can see why you stay in so often.”
His expression darkened, eyes darting away.
Veronica softened, realizing how her words sounded a moment too late. “I didn’t mean- I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”
“It’s fine. What matters is that you are happy here. I’m glad to hear that.”
There was an awkward moment of silence before Veronica spoke again. “What was he like, if you don’t mind me asking? Your friend??”
He hesitated.
“Please don’t feel like you need to answer if you don’t want to. I wasn’t trying to pry.”
“No, you didn’t say anything you shouldn’t have. Perhaps it would be best to talk about him.”
She waited to see if he would say anything else, not wanting to push him.
“His name was Alexander. We all but grew up together. When he was consumed by the fire I-” he cut himself off.
Veronica took his hand in her own.
He looked up in shock, eyes darting between their hands and her face. After a moment he wrapped his fingers around hers.
Only then did he speak once more. “When he passed away, I didn’t know what to do. It was all my fault. How could I face anyone.”
“Christopher,” she whispered.
