Edward sat down on his knees, extending his hands towards Amy, who was still standing, with a huge smile on her face. It almost looked like she was testing her feet, wondering if they could support her in the difficult quest she had started to make. Both Edward and Ophelia began to call out to her with their arms outspread, Amy’s eyes darting from one to the other.
“Amy, darling, come to me,” Edward said, nodding at her.
Amy started walking, taking slow, tentative steps, and Ophelia excitedly held Edward’s hand. The moment their hands touched, they looked at each other, and Ophelia pulled her hand away, but it had been a moment too late. He had felt the shock of her touch, unable to understand why he felt this way whenever they were close.
“Come here, Amy.”
He once again shifted his attention to Amy as Ophelia called out to her. His beautiful little niece was still taking one step at a time, and Edward could not help marvelling at her perfection. Even her first steps were filled with confidence, and he could clearly see Margaret’s traits and nature shining within Amy. He was certain she was going to grow up just as strong-headed as his sister.
“Yes, Amy, we are waiting,” he called out.
Amy was just a few more steps away, but just as she picked up her right foot to step forward, her left foot wobbled on the ground, and she fell. Both Edward and Ophelia waited with bated breaths, but Amy straightened herself almost immediately, bursting into laughter.
Ophelia, too, began to laugh as the little girl crawled towards them, Edward laughing along. Both Amy and Ophelia had infectious laughter, and he could not help feeling just as ecstatic as them when with the two. Amy finally reached Ophelia, easily crawling into her lap while the two still chuckled.
Edward stared at them with love in his eyes, unable to believe how lucky he had got.
A sudden thought filled his head, and he wondered if he could just do something and be stuck in this moment forever. He wanted nothing but Ophelia and Amy in his life with their laughter, beauty, and courage.
He wanted them both. For good. But was that even possible?
Amy crawled into his lap next, and he easily took hold of her, as she snuggled into his neck while Edward held her. Ophelia continued to stroke Amy’s hair as they sat there, and Edward felt a pang of deep longing in his heart.
He already knew he would give anything to have this forever.
Chapter 21
Ophelia was glad for the few uneventful days at the house when she did not have to see Alice, but luck could only be on her side for so long. As she walked inside the house, her eyes immediately fell on Lady Alice, who was standing just by the door, conversing with the housekeeper. Ophelia did not know how she had failed to notice Lady Alice’s arrival from the gardens, but it must have happened when she had gone towards the back.
If it were up to her, she would never even see her face again, but that would be impossible.
Oh God.
Lady Alice absolutely must not see me.
Even though she had not been able to recognize Ophelia earlier, Ophelia was no longer sure that she would have the same luck. Alice was in constant contact with her due to being at balls every other night, and if she managed to look closely at Ophelia, recognition wouldn’t be difficult.
Ophelia put Amy’s head on her shoulder and silently began to walk away from beside Lady Alice and Mrs Connor, hoping that she was irrelevant enough not to be called by either of them. Just when she thought she had easily passed themwithout being noticed, an annoyingly fake accent called out from behind.
“You, nanny.” You, nanny? Lady Alice clearly had a lot of class.
Ophelia had half a mind to completely ignore her as if she had not even heard her speaking and continue walking without turning around. Although, knowing how miserably hateful Alice was, she would probably march up to the nursery so Ophelia could apologize for the disrespect she had shown a noble lady. It would only increase suspicion when Ophelia wanted to avoid exactly that.
She turned around, noticing that Mrs Connor was already walking away. Ophelia had no doubts that Lady Alice must have probably angered her as well, just as she managed to do so with everyone. Although, right now, Ophelia only needed to focus on keeping her face down and staying as far away from the woman as possible.
“Yes, My Lady?”
“The housekeeper did not know when Lord Cavendish might return. Do you have any idea?”
How was Ophelia supposed to know being the nanny? She wondered if Alice was just thick- brained or refused to simply think at all.
“I have no idea. Will that be all?”
“Ye–” Ophelia gulped nervously when Alice stopped speaking mid-sentence as if she had suddenly remembered something. “Why do I feel like I know you?”
Ophelia still kept her face tucked away, hoping for her golden tendrils to continue framing her face.
“We met at the country house as well, My Lady, when you came to visit with Lady Rosalina.”
