The baby’s eyes bulged. She recognized that watch.
“If you’re about to do what I think you’re about to do, I think you should stop right now, Daniel. She will not let go of your watch this time. Mark my words,” Victoria warned.
“Ah, I suppose. Well, my little niece, we will be leaving soon, and I must admit I will miss you,” Daniel said. “I thought so many terrible thoughts the first time I met this beautiful girl, but now, I truly look at her as my blood.”
“I know what you mean,” Wilhelmina said wistfully. “We will have to band together to protect her. She is so precious.”
“I believe I must go, Victoria,” Daniel said, kissing his sister’s cheeks. There was a new tenderness to his voice that made her want to weep.
“Thank you for coming, Daniel,” she said softly.
Her brother had really done so much to make up for the times he felt he had abandoned them. She had no doubt that he would be there immediately if she called him for any kind of assistance.
“I must leave, too, Vicky. The children are waiting,” Wilhelmina said softly, a sad smile on her face. “Henry and Hector wouldwant to recite some verses before sleeping. Of course, I am also tired.”
Victoria was reminded of Wilhelmina’s pregnancy. She reached out to rub her sister’s belly. Her hand trembled.
“Go on ahead, Vicky. I don’t mind it. It’s strangers I don’t want anywhere near the baby,” Mina urged.
They all walked toward the foyer, with Melody in Victoria’s arms. Daniel and Wilhelmina then left for their own carriages. Victoria turned to see that her twin was lingering for some reason.
“Aren’t you tired, Daphne?” she asked. “Don’t you need your rest, too?”
Daphne remained standing, watching the two carriages leave Hawksford’s front. She darted a glance at Victoria, her eyes sad.
“Go on, Daphne,” Victoria said, sounding weary. “I will have to put Melody in the nursery and call Mrs. Hughes to watch her throughout the night. Then, I will also retire.”
“You’ve been lying all afternoon,” Daphne said, her brows furrowed.
“What?”
“I’ve watched you. You were trying to enjoy the afternoon with us. But I’ve seen your slumped shoulders and stiff posture. Your smiles don’t reach your eyes. And I—I understand. So much is going on with your life at the moment, Vicky.”
“Of course,” Victoria said, flinching. “I’ve told you all that I’m worried about Melody. About the future. The little fortress Hawksford had become.”
“Remember that I am your twin, Vicky,” Daphne said, keeping her voice soft but firm. “We do not only share features, but I can tell when you are not telling me the whole truth. There’s something else that you aren’t telling us. Yes, I believe you are worried about Melody. You are being a good mother to her, after all. But I think there’s something more going on. You’re shattered over something else. You are a fighter. That means that something worse is happening.”
Her sister’s words broke the walls around her. Finally, she let herself cry and throw her arms around Daphne. There, she wept quietly, which still wasn’t like her. The old Victoria would have been screaming and flailing about, announcing her anger to the world. This new broken Victoria held back.
“What is it?” Daphne asked gently when they broke the embrace, and Victoria was quietly wiping the tears away while still sniffling.
“Richard said that everything that happened between us was a mistake. He said he would not have stayed if not for Melody and the scandal. He’s here only to protect us, and nothing more. Healso made it clear that he would rather keep his distance because being close to me is not wise. It’s driving him to make the wrong decisions,” Victoria spilled everything, in between gasps for air. “There is no future for the two of us, Daphne. I was living a grand delusion.”
“The fool!” spat Daphne. Victoria had never seen her twin look so angry. “He is a blind fool for thinking that way. He thinks he can protect the world and ignore you and make you feel small.”
“He believes that he is being noble,” Victoria admitted. “He thinks that he is saving me while ridding himself of distractions.”
“Your husband may be speaking out of fear, Vicky,” Daphne said, though she still looked angry. “It does not excuse him for hurting you. I wish you had said something while Daniel and Mina were still here.”
“No! Let us keep this between us for now, Daphne,” Victoria pleaded. “Please?”
“All right,” her sister said, slumping her shoulders in surrender. “I hope you remember that you are still the best woman he could ever hope to marry. He is being ridiculous about not trusting you enough to make you a partner in this.”
“It is his loss, then,” Victoria tried to be cheeky. Her eyes did drift toward the dark street where she could spot silhouettes of some of Richard’s men lingering, possibly waiting for her to lock the front door after Daphne finally decided to leave. “Still, I haveeverything I need here, Daphne. Remember, all that I wished for was my own household. I didn’t want to be deposited into someone’s home out of pity. I also have Melody now. I have a daughter, Daphne!”
“Of course you have, dear,” Daphne murmured, finally smiling.
“Yes, I have a husband who is more of a stranger and a heart that is broken but healing. I have a child, and that will make me remain steadfast and strong.”
