In earnest, she had not been paying much attention. They were at the dinner table, and usually, it gave the two young girls a chance to speak to Alethea. But tonight, they had a fresh new face at the table.
Theodore had made an appearance. It was the first time that she had seen him since the night that he had her kidnapped. To say that things felt awkward between the two of them would be putting it rather mildly.
She looked towards the door, waiting for Oliver to show up. If anything, he would be able to provide some kind of mediatory role between the two of them. But since the week that she hadbeen in the estate, Oliver had never shown up to dinner even once. She would be foolish to expect it from him tonight.
Across the table, Theodore shifted in his seat. Was that a frown tugging at his mouth? Alethea couldn't be sure. Perhaps he was feeling as awkward as she was.
Then finally, Theodore cleared his throat. Both Eleanor and Clara looked to their brother expectantly, likely hoping he might finally join the conversation.
Alethea set down her fork, trying not to appear as tense as she felt. Could it be that he was about to speak to her?
But no words came. Perhaps she had been mistaken. He remained silent until the end of the dinner, when he finally spoke.
"Eleanor, Clara," he began quietly, "might I trouble you both to leave Her Grace and me to speak alone for a few minutes?"
Eleanor's mouth formed a small "oh" of surprise. She looked between Theodore and Alethea in confusion, clearly not expecting such a request. Both sisters complied, though.
Alethea felt her stomach swoop with nerves. Why would Theodore possibly want to speak to her alone? Especially when he had barely spoken to her at all in ages.
Had she done something wrong? Is this about Oliver?
Theodore stepped away from his chair, gesturing courteously for his sisters to go. After a moment, Theodore got up from his chair as well and began to pace the length of the room.
He seemed…nervous, she realized with some surprise. Theodore's dark brows were drawn together, and after a few restless strides he paused.
"Is something the matter, Lord Theodore?" she asked softly.
"Firstly," he said, "please call me Theodore. We are family. If…well, if you can still think of me as such, that is."
"Of course I think of you as a friend," she replied, though she did not mean the words so seriously. She did not know much of him, only that he had once abducted her from her bed and that he was now related to her, through her rather unconventional marriage.
"You are gracious," Theodore shook his head. "I suppose this makes me feel even worse."
"I owe you an apology," Theodore said at last.
She opened her mouth to protest automatically: it was in her nature to deflect attention from her own grievances if it soothed others. But the look on Theodore's face stopped her short.
"I should have spoken to you long before now," he continued. "But now is as good as a time as ever. So please, accept myapology for what happened that night and for the fact that I have been avoiding you since you arrived at the estate."
"Well, then consider your apology accepted," Alethea told him. He looked up at her in surprise.
"I nearly ruined your life," he said. "Do you not hold that against me in any way?"
"We have both been through a great deal," she said softly. "Let us not dwell on what should or shouldn't have been done. What's important is how we choose to move forward now."
Theodore's stiff posture loosened at that.
"You are… remarkably forgiving," he said, with a kind of wonder. "Truly, Oliver is blessed to have you as his wife."
"I simply try to do what's right," she murmured.
He gently placed his free hand over hers where it rested on his arm, giving a light, sincere squeeze.
"I'll make it up to you in time, if you'll allow me."
"You already have," Alethea said earnestly, meeting his gaze so he could see she meant it. "This means a great deal to me. I'm so happy we've talked honestly at last."
"You are generous. Thank you," he said simply.
