“I hope so,” Rosalina sighed. “Ophelia, can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“Now that you and I have finally become friends, I do not wish you to think that the rest of the family or I am indifferent to Edward’s behaviour towards Amy. We are all well aware of it and wish to change it one way or the other. We have all known since the beginning.”
“You have?”
“Yes.” Rosalina nodded, “It has been right in front of us from the start, and I cannot even explain the sadness it gives me. I wish I could do something about it, but there is not much I can do. This is why I insisted that you and Amy come to London with us so Edward would not be parted from her.”
“Why can you not do something about it? Can none of you talk to Lord Cavendish and ask him to perhaps change his behaviour?”
“I wish. But Edward is completely opposed to the conversation and has no desire to partake in it. Everyone has tried their hand at talking to him, yet he refused. In fact, when Amy was born, and Margaret passed away, all of us offered to take guardianship of Amy and raise her, but Edward refused and took her to the country with him, saying it was his responsibility alone and he would take care of it. Otherwise, Amy could have been living with me or someone else in the family.”
“Oh,” Ophelia was a little disappointed, “Only if Lord Cavendish had no qualms with someone else taking care of Amy, she might have had a better childhood.”
“He forbade us to take her, Ophelia; hence, we were helpless.” Rosalina shrugged. “I know it was just his stubbornness, but we could not have gone against him. He clearly only wanted to stay distant and give her an unhappy childhood since he pretends he is incapable of loving her after Margaret’s death.”
“I pray every day for him to get better, but even if he does decide to come close to her, he pulls away just as quickly,” Ophelia replied, sighing.
“I can tell. But I am extremely glad to see how you shower her with love and affection, and I feel she is not lacking in anything. I understand how she will never be able to experience the pure love of parenthood, but she at least has you and the rest of the family to keep showing her the affection she deserves.”
Ophelia smiled, glad she could play a part in making Amy’s childhood better, “I am glad you feel this way.”
Rosalina began to say something, but Amy’s loud laughter reached their ears, and both young women looked ahead to see Edward and Amy returning, Edward comfortably holding the little girl in his arms as she jumped about.
She looked ecstatic.
Ophelia could not help staring at her lovingly as she witnessed how happy she looked with Edward and how perfect they looked together. Anyone who saw them right now would be certain that Edward was her father since Edward had the potential of being just that for Amy. Despite that, Ophelia knew he felt otherwise and preferred maintaining his distance.
“Amy!” Rosalina exclaimed as Edward carefully sat back down on the blanket, placing Amy down, who immediately began to crawl about again.
“How was the lake, darling?” Ophelia asked Amy, who continued to jump about happily as if she was truly having the time of her life.
“It looks like you enjoyed the lake with Uncle Edward,” Rosalina added.
Ophelia picked up the little girl in her arms, and Amy comfortably settled into her lap, beginning to look tired. Edward stayed quiet, his eyes constantly drawn towards Amy, and Ophelia could not help wondering what he might be thinking about. He seemed lost in his own world as if several thoughts were weighing on his head.
“Did you enjoy the lake, Uncle Edward?” Rosalina turned towards him.
“The lake was as beautifully dull as ever,” he said, shrugging, “I still do not see why I had to take her when either of you could have done just the same.”
“We already explained to you the mechanics of this arrangement.” Ophelia laughed, remembering their discussion when Edward denied taking Amy to see the ducks.
“Absolutely,” Rosalina added, “Ophelia and I could not have gone individually because why should a young woman have to take a child on such a long walk alone? And we could not have gone together and left you here alone because a young man having a solo picnic just appears rather sad and, quite frankly, a little pathetic.”
“Pathetic?” Edward scoffed.
“Precisely.” Ophelia laughed, watching how Rosalina and Edward fought like siblings, clearly sharing a deep bond despite just being cousins.
How deep must be the relationship he shared with his very own sister, Margaret?
Ophelia understood the beauty and depth of sibling love and did not hold Edward’s emotions against him. She knew that it could not be easy for him to emerge out of the shock of his sister’s passing, but the only thing she held against him was his unfair treatment of Amy because the little girl certainly did not deserve it. She deserved the world, and Edward was adamant about not giving her anything.
“Edward, can you look behind you and see if it is Lady Marlow?”
He turned around and looked, nodding slowly.
“In the purple hat?”
