Gemma dressed for breakfast and hoped to hear from Lothar or that he would call during the day. When a carriage did arrive it was not who Gemma had expected.
“Here you are dear,” her mother knocked and then came into the room and said. “You have a caller.” She said with an odd smile.
“Is it Lothar?” Gemma asked, knowing that it must be him.
“Not exactly. Now get dressed dear, one does not want to be rude,” her mother said and left as quickly as she had come into the room.
Who could it be if not Lothar?Gemma wondered while she left her sleeping quarters and made her way to the tea room where most guests were shown when they visited. When she entered the room, she did not expect to look into those cold blue eyes ever again!
“Edward, it has been a while,” Gemma said trying her best not to seem as nervous and upset as she felt on the inside.
“My dear, I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to receive an invitation to tea with you. Surprised really as I have not heard from you in almost two years now.”
He said as he took her hand in his and kissed the back of her hand. His blonde hair was still as greasy as she remembered and his face even more weasel-like than she remembered. He was shorter than she was and that had not bothered her as much as she had allowed someone smaller than her to bully her.
Gemma felt so repulsed that she felt physically ill.
Not any more surprised than I am,Gemma thought with disdain.
“Well sometimes it is good to see old friends again.” Gemma said starting to more easily make conversation.
Why do you not tell him to leave! After all he has done to you!Gemma’s mind raged at her as she tried to make sense of him being here.
It could only have been my great-grandmother and her idea of taking control of my life. She really has gone too far this time!Gemma decided to be courteous to Edward even though it was best if he would leave.
What could be the harm? It was only tea after all.Gemma thought as she chased away all the bad memories of the short and disappointing time together.
He had courted others beside her when they had been together. It had not been like with Lothar. He had one friend that was still in his life, and he had made it clear that his choice had been made. Edward had the nerve to be seeing several women at the same time simply to secure the woman with the most money.
“So are you still writing?” Edward asked and Gemma was surprised that he even remembered that she wrote. More so that he would speak about any other topic besides himself.
“It is going well thank you. I thought you found female writers to be of little substance.” Gemma asked not willing toextend her kindness to pretending he did not insult everything she did and was.
“Edward, I must be honest with you. The invitation to tea today was not from me. Furthermore I had no idea you were going to be here today,” Gemma said, not wanting Edward to get the idea that they could be together again.
“I know, My Lady. Your great-grandmother sent me a letter. She said that you were currently in a courtship she did not approve of.” Edward said seemingly unbothered by her lack of enthusiasm.
“You know it was not me? Why did you come then, you know I said that I did not want to see you again.” Gemma said.
“I thought that you may have changed your mind as time had gone by. After all it has been two years and two failed seasons. You may be running out of choices, My Lady. Shall we go for a walk?”” Edward said in a calm, smug tone.
“If you knew me at all, Edward. You would know that I would rather be on my own than get married only to be with someone just for the sake of doing so, but fine, the fresh air would be welcome.” Gemma replied.
“I did not come here to use you, My Lady. I have missed you and I still think we would make a good match. At least a better one than a duke that still loves another woman.” Edwardsaid still in a calm manner. It was not a tone that spoke so much of his self-control, it was a thin vail that would tear for the simplest of reasons. They started to walk away from the house. Gemma had not noticed that they had gotten quite far from the house.
Her mind cast her back to a time when he had made her miserable for days on end by being in a foul mood over his newspaper getting wet in the rain. He had arrived for tea with the offending paper under his arm and had spent the entire time he was there, complaining about it.
It made her lose her temper.
“Edward, I do not know what ideas were put in your head but there will never be a chance for us again.” Gemma said and turned to leave. She would rather be slightly rude by leaving her guest than to engage in what was quickly becoming an argument.
“Gemma please,” Edward pleaded. Gemma turned to him. She had never heard him plead in his life. “I do not expect you to forget how things ended between us, I am asking that you just give me the opportunity to make it up to you. I hate the way things were left between us. If we could repair that then I would be happy the rest of my life.” Edward said with the type of convincing smile that used to make her mind melt.
It was still a lovely smile, but she did not feel the same as she had the last time. They had been so deeply in love thatshe had been completely blind to his ways. She was perhaps overcompensating for that by being suspicious of every man that had come after Edward.
“There is no need to make anything up to me, Edward,” Gemma said wanting him to leave.
“There is, My Lady. I have hurt you and I am very sorry for that. The fact that you still react so strongly to me, means there is still a spark between us.” Edward said.
