Why is he so cruel to her?
She could not believe that Edward was her uncle and only relative because it almost felt like he hated the little girl. Ophelia could not understand how he was capable of hating such a sweet child. How could he? But she knew it was best if she kept Amyaway from him. It was one thing to be deprived of his love but completely another when he consciously rejected her.
And she was not going to let that happen.
***
As soon as the door of the study closed behind Ophelia, Edward felt his breathing quicken. He knew he had not done the right thing by being this careless with his words and emotions. He had been brutal towards Amy and Ophelia when neither of them deserved to be treated this way. But he had not been able to help it.
Amy’s smile is exactly like Margaret’s.
“I miss you so much, Margaret,” he whispered in the empty study, tears stinging his eyes. He had not been able to picture anything else except his sister when he had seen Amy smile.
And that had made him lose control.
Edward had been the reason behind her smile throughout their childhood. He had loved, protected, and kept her safe from all troubles. However, it was he who had been the reason that Margaret had lost all her smiles.
He had been the reason she had lost her heart from anything and everything. He had brought her unhappiness and now he was doing the exact same thing to Amy. But he knew he could not bear being close to the little girl.
Not with the memories she jogged in him.
Even if he broke her heart, he had no choice.
Chapter 7
“Miss Jennings, this letter just arrived for you.” A maid handed Ophelia a sealed envelope, and Ophelia quickly snatched it, already certain it must have arrived from home.
“Thank you,” she said to the maid who walked away while Amy, seated comfortably in Ophelia’s lap, tried to grab the letter from her while Ophelia kept it away.
Amy began to giggle, treating it like a game and jumping higher in Ophelia’s lap the more she kept it away. Mrs Bailey, sitting right there, started to laugh at the heartfelt scene, and Ophelia could not help laughing alongside, Amy’s antics beginning to grow naughtier every day. As the little girl was growing older and beginning to recognize those around her, she was getting more active. Ophelia was almost certain that it was all due to the love she had been receiving from everyone.
After the episode with Edward the week before, Ophelia resolved to ensure that she provided Amy with even more love than before since the child deserved it. Hence, Ophelia celebrated every single milestone Amy achieved and was the happiest in this change of attitude, which turned Amy into a playful little girl who was full of laughter. Her squeals could be heard throughout the day in the manor, but even those were not enough to draw Edward out.
I wish he had more of a heart.
But he clearly did not. In fact, he had stopped appearing in front of everyone once again, and where he once showed up for breakfast, he had stopped doing that as well. Once again, Edward had retreated within himself and was refusing to interact with either Amy or Ophelia and the rest of the household. She failed to understand him.
“Has the letter arrived from home, Miss Jennings?” Mrs Bailey’s question brought Ophelia back to the present, and she quickly shook away her thoughts, not wanting to be absorbed in them.
“Yes,” Ophelia nodded, continuing to keep it away from Amy, “my mother has written to me.”
“If you wish to read it right now, you must go ahead,” Mrs Bailey said, “I will hold Amy for you.”
“That will be splendid!”
Mrs Bailey scooped the child from Ophelia’s arms, who took a deep breath and opened the letter before her. She had not heard from home in quite some time now and missed everyone, but despite that, she certainly did not feel the need to go see her family. Her relationship with Amy was only growing stronger and Ophelia was enjoying her time here. However, as shefetched the parchment from inside the envelope, her mother’s familiar scrawl almost made her tear up.
Dearest daughter,
If words could entrap the feelings of sorrow I experience at you being away from me for such a length of time, I would have written extensively. However, words, too, fail me. It is not as if I or anyone else in the house is unhappy but all of us terribly miss your infectious laughter and lively presence. You have always been the sunshine of our household, and nothing or no one else can ever take your place.
Andrew has been asking about you constantly, wondering when you will visit and what you will bring for him. He loves you, considering you are the one who raised him. You are more his mother than I am, and this is shown in his loving nature and kindness of heart. He is exactly like you, affectionate and filled with love. Amelia and Sarah miss you just as much, both of them realizing your absence but taking up every responsibility that was once yours.
They have started to help around the house and are clearly turning into disciplined women from young girls. By the time you visit, you too will sense a change in them. Sarah has already started to study on her own, pursuing her teacher’s education, and is even more determined than earlier to get into the school. With the effort she is putting into her studies, I am certain she will. Moreover, Amelia has been seeing a respectable young gentleman for a while now. He is the third son of a baron and is making a good living for himself. Moreover, he seems tobe smitten by Amelia and has noble feelings towards her. She seems to like him quite a lot, and I am sure we will be hearing wedding bells in the future.
Despite all of it, I am happy to hear you are doing well and having a delightful time. Young Amy sounds like a loving little girl, and under your warmth and supervision, she will only grow into an excellent young woman. I have faith in your abilities to make sure that the child has ample love and care.
Especially since Amy has already suffered enough for such a young age. Your employer, The Earl of Sommers, is an excellent man, or so I have heard through others in the ton. It is extremely noble of him to take guardianship of his sister’s daughter, Amy, after the tragic deaths of his sister and brother-in-law. Those deaths must have really shaken him to the core, especially since their parents have already passed away as well.
