“I thought you might still be awake,” she said when she noticed the girl stirring lightly in her bed.
“I am,” Odette didn’t turn her head.
Penelope came to sit at the edge of the bed, smoothing a hand over the duvet.
“It’s quite late,” Penelope said and Odette sat up in her bed.
“I know but I just could not sleep,” Odette said. “I was finishing the latest book you gave me.”
“Oh?” Penelope smiled. “And what did you make of it?”
“I liked it,” Odette nodded. “But you know that I always enjoy your recommendations. Do you think one day I’ll have read just as many books as you have?”
“Oh, I have no doubt,” Penelope smiled. “In fact, I am certain that you will end up reading quite a lot more, judging by how fast you seem to go through them.”
“You cannot fault me for being a fast reader,” Odette shrugged her shoulders. “There is not much to do around here, as you know already. The books at least let me escape to a world where I do not have to follow so many rules.”
Penelope frowned.
“Did you ask him?” Odette’s next question seemed to have read Penelope’s mind. “About.. Well, you know.”
“I spoke to your father, yes,” Penelope said. She was not sure how to break the news to Odette.
“And?” She could hear the excitement in her voice.
“He... he says Fergus and Lewis must accompany us. At a distance, of course,” she added quickly, hoping it would help.
“So we’re not going alone,” Odette blinked slowly.
“No, but?—”
“You promised,” Odette interrupted, “You said you would make it happen.”
“I did try,” Penelope said softly, reaching for her hand. “And I’m not breaking my word. We’ll still go, and Isadora will join us, too. It will be lovely, I promise.”
“But it won’t be what I asked for,” Odette said, sitting up a bit more. “It never is. You say yes, but he says no, and then everything stays exactly the same.”
Penelope’s chest ached at the words, more so because of the resigned way they were said.
“He’s only trying to keep you safe, dearest. The world can be?—”
“I know. Dangerous.” Odette pulled the blanket higher, “Everyone keeps telling me that. But I was really hoping that you would convince him for a change.”
Penelope opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came at first. The girl’s disappointment was not dramatic, but rather it was quiet. It felt worse.
“Odette... I’m sorry,” Penelope sighed.
“It’s all right,” she murmured, turning onto her side. “I think I’d like to sleep now.”
Penelope remained seated for a moment longer, then slowly rose to her feet. There was nothing that could be said at this moment to make the little girl feel better, and Penelope did not wish to make false promises either.
Instead, she placed a gentle kiss on Odette’s head and whispered, “Good night, darling.”
But the girl didn’t respond. Odette’s silence hurt more than all the yelling in the world ever could.
And it felt horrible to let her down.
Penelope left Odette’s room with a weight settled inside her chest. As she passed the hallway that led to Alexander’s study, she noticed the light was still on.
