“Bit of a tangle,” she said, and Amelia wasn’t sure if she was referring to her hair or to that confrontation downstairs. Likely, a little of both.
Clementine, who’d been mostly silent since leaving Mr. Beckworth’s study, met Amelia’s stare.
“It isn’t really,” she finally said. “In fact, there is actually a good explanation for all of it.” But then she winced. “I’m just not sure where to begin.”
Thanks to the comfort of the hot water and the scent of the lavender soap on her skin, Amelia was already feeling more like herself. Although, perhaps, however, it had more to do with this reprieve from having to deal with her mother. She could sensethat the frayed ends of her tattered composure would unravel if she allowed her thoughts to stray.
To any of it.
The little scenario in Mr. Beckworth’s study, but also earlier…
Because where her heart had once lived felt unusually empty.
Amelia flicked her gaze to Clementine’s lap, where Margie had made herself comfortable.
“Why did you have to keep Margie too?” Amelia asked. Discussing the past suddenly felt a thousand times easier than discussing the present. And for the moment, Amelia was happy not to think about what was to come…
“Oh, Amelia.” It was Clementine now who looked like she might dissolve into tears. “I—I didn’t mean to. It was just that, by the time I found her and returned to your chamber, you had already gone. I wrote to you, several times, in fact. Benjamin—Lord Winterhope, that is—was quite prepared to drive us both to Cherrywood Park. To return Margie, but also so I could talk to you. I never meant to hurt you.”
Amelia’s lips twisted, her brow furrowed. “I don’t understand. Father and Mother said…”
As though to prove Clementine’s point, Margie leapt onto the edge of the bath and nearly slipped right into the water. Amelia reached up to try and pet her, but Margie batted away her wet hand, luckily without getting her claws involved, and darted away again, out the door.
She’d likely explore the entire manor. Outdoors if she could find an open window.
Margie had never been easily contained.
“Oh Clem...” Amelia trailed off. It was too absurd now to repeat what her parents had told her, how her cousin had so thoroughly and spitefully betrayed her and their family.
“You didn’t receive my letters, did you?” Clementine asked, tilting her head.
“Father said you insisted on keeping her.” But of course Clem was telling the truth!
They were the ones who had lied!
Her parents hadn’t really liked Clementine. In fact, they’d complained about her often. Amelia hadn’t taken them seriously, because she, personally, had never been happier than after Clementine had arrived.
Her cousin and her friend, who just so happened to have also been Amelia’spaidcompanion.
Amelia stared into Clementine’s eyes, an almost startingly beautiful violet color, the likes of which she’d never seen on anyone else. She hadn’t been jealous of Clementine. Not really. It had been something else.
“When you came to Cherrywood Park, would you have stayed, if my parents hadn’t paid you?”
Clem frowned. “Of course! But I wasn’t given a choice. Your mother?—”
“My mother…” Amelia was already nodding, not liking herself very much. “I’ve been wrong all along. Those were the only terms upon which they’d allow you to stay, weren’t they?” She exhaled. “I’m the one, I think, who owes you an apology.”
“Not at all!”
“Yes, I do. I thought…” Amelia swallowed hard. She had loved Clementine, but at the same time, deep down, she had believed Clementine didn’t really feel the same. She had been so distant at times, so stiffly professional, while at others, she could be so understanding and kind. The dichotomy had been confusing, and that confusion had led to hurt. As her resentment grew, she’d treated Clem unfairly, but now she could clearly see her parents’ influence in all that had happened betweenthem. “Oh, Clem, I’m so sorry.” New tears pricked the backs of Amelia’s eyes.
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for.” Clem leaned forward.
Fanny took that moment to dump a pitcher of water over Amelia’s head with no warning.
“Pftt!” Amelia sputtered and peered out from between the wet strands of her hair. She blinked in shock, and then all three women broke into a startling fit of giggles, breaking the tension.
It was also possible that Amelia was feeling a little hysterical.
