Edward thanked her before quickly marching back downstairs and making his way towards the garden. The fresh breeze made him feel even lighter, his eyes falling on Amy. Ophelia sat just by the tree as Amy crawled about, and for a few seconds, Edward could not look away. His heart leaped with joy at the sight of her strawberry blonde hair tied in a luxurious braid, which lay on her shoulder.
She was beautiful, and Edward could simply not get enough.
As Edward went ahead, Ophelia looked up at him, and Amy immediately began to crawl towards him as she had doneseveral times in the past. His heart always melted, realizing how much she wanted to be held by him, but he remembered how he had completely ignored the little girl in several such instances.
He had been a terrible guardian, but he was going to be better.
He was determined to be better and do right by Amy.
“Miss Jennings,” he bowed to Ophelia, who barely smiled back, confusing Edward.
“Lord Cavendish.”
“Do you mind if I join you and Amy?”
He grabbed Amy in his arms, and she began to jump jubilantly, touching his face and hair. He could see she was already beginning to enjoy herself, her beautiful smile intact. Edward had needed exactly that – to see the smile that meant the world to him.
“Not at all,” Ophelia replied, moving a little to make more space for him on the blanket laid out on the ground.
Without wasting any time, Edward sat down on the grass, Amy still tightly clasped in his arms. The moment he sat down, she began to jump even more, clearly trying to escape from hisarms. Carefully, Edward let her go, and she was once again at peace, beginning to crawl. He could see how much she enjoyed the grass and exploring her surroundings.
“Amy is growing up too quickly. Don’t you think?” he addressed Ophelia, who still hadn’t looked at him.
“She is.”
Edward was confused. He wondered if he had done something to offend Ophelia, but he had hardly interacted with her this morning except that he was sure she had seen him leave with Alice. Although why would something such as that offend Ophelia?
He could not understand.
“Are you feeling alright today, Miss Jennings?”
“Excellent,” she replied, “you?”
She still did not turn to look at him, her eyes stuck on Amy. Edward knew something was wrong. Her behaviour with him had never been this cold, and she always treated him with kindness. Although today, she was completely aloof as if Edward was nothing but a stranger when she had been dancing in his arms at a ball just a couple of nights ago.
What is the matter?
“I am well.”
Ophelia nodded.
“You did not come down to the dining room for breakfast this morning.”
“I ate in the nursery.”
Edward sighed, realizing how all his attempts at conversation were failing miserably. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, he noticed Ophelia’s eyes widening as she almost stood up. He looked at Amy instinctively and watched with a mix of surprise and fear as she stood up from the ground with the support of the tree at some distance from them.
“I will get her before she falls,” Edward said, but Ophelia vehemently shook her head, clearly against the decision.
“No,” she said in a whisper, “this is the first time she has tried to stand all on her own. She is supposed to learn to walk exactly this way.”
Edward sat back down, still ready to sprint if Amy fell. He did not know what it was about her but suddenly felt extremelyprotective, not wanting the little girl to get hurt. He watched patiently as Ophelia’s prediction came true, and Amy finally removed her hand from the tree, standing without any support.
“Oh good God,” Ophelia gasped, and Edward could see the happiness she felt.
“Should we encourage her to walk towards us?”
“Yes!”
