Sarah took Amy from her, once again seating her on the sofa so Andrew could play with her.
“I am so glad you brought her along,” Amelia said, “she is a delight.”
“She is an angel,” Ophelia sighed, “I have come to love her like my own.”
“You spend day and night with her, and knowing you, you give her the love only a mother would give a child,” her mother said. “It is heartwarming to see the two of you together.”
“You should see her at the manor,” Ophelia replied, “everyone in the household loves her.”
“Ophelia is right,” Selene, still sitting in the living room, said. “Everyone in the house loves Amy from all their hearts, but no one loves her as much as Ophelia. She loves her even more than her own mother could have loved her.”
“Ophelia has always been loving,” Sarah replied, “she gave us siblings the same love as well. She is truly a jewel.”
“Everyone in the house will immediately agree,” Selene laughed.
“You all must stop singing my praises before it goes straight to my head.”
“I do not mind one bit, even if it goes to your head. You have come home after months, and I plan to spoil you with love.” Her mother hugged her once again, and Ophelia gave in to it.
“I am counting on it.”
She looked at the living room, which had come to life from the chatter and already felt worlds better. It was almost like her heart had found a home again after being lost for days. She had been emotionally exhausted and needed a place where she could keep her head and rest. That was all she needed.
And now that she was home, she had just that.
I will be fine soon.
All she needed to do was get over Edward as quickly as she could, and all would be well again. Her heart wouldn’t hurt ever again. At least, that was what she hoped for.
Chapter 25
“Are you sure you cannot stay for dinner, Randolph,” Edward asked for the tenth time, desperately in need of company.
“I am afraid I cannot, my friend,” he apologized, his arm locked in Rosalina’s embrace as they all sat in the drawing room, “Had I not already given the time to meet my solicitor today, I would have. But I must attend to some urgent work.”
“I understand.”
“Besides, I am still staying with you,” Rosalina chimed in, “do you not want my company? Am I beginning to bore you?”
“You can never bore me, dear cousin,” Edward managed the semblance of a smile. “You are always the brightest person in the room, making everyone around you feel at home at all times.”
“Precisely.”
Randolph stood up, “I must take my leave now. I will see you soon, Edward.”
“Come, I will see you out,” Edward said, standing up, but Rosalina shook her head.
“Oh no, you go wait for me in the dining room since Mrs Connor has already told us thrice that dinner has been served. I will quickly see Randolph out and join you shortly.”
Edward nodded wordlessly, understanding Rosalina’s need to have a few solitary moments with her betrothed. Whenever he saw the two of them together, he could not be happier for them. The love they shared for one another was unquestionably beautiful, and Edward wished them nothing but even more happiness.
He made his way to the dining room, the silence of the house beginning to bother him once again. It had just been two days since Ophelia had left with Amy, but it already felt like two months had passed. When Rosalina had informed him of Ophelia’s departure, he had been certain he would enjoy the peace now that Amy was gone.
But it had not been the case.
If anything, he hadn’t felt this miserable in a very long time. Edward sat at the table, motioning the maids to wait to serve since Rosalina had still not returned. He sighed, unable to believe that Amy had become such a huge part of his life this quickly, and he missed her presence. Ophelia was an entirely different matter.
He missed her too, even if he was hesitant to accept it as the truth.
