He never took me seriously—never saw me for who I am. He was just using me. And I was foolish enough to give him my heart.
Evie pursed her lips. “Don’t you think it is a good sign that he wishes to come to an understanding with you?”
“The problem is that his version of an understanding and mine are different. I’ve told Conrad what it will take to heal our marriage, but I know him. He is used to getting what he wants. He thinks he can negotiate his way out of this. That he can appease me with some trifling offer.”
“Building a square elsewhere for the villagers is not exactly a trifling matter,” Xenia said dryly. “But I see your point. He does not understand what Chuddums means to you and, more importantly, to the people who live here.”
“Precisely.” Gigi gave a morose nod.
Xenia hesitated. “This may not be my place to say…”
“Do speak freely, dear.”
“As a woman married to a man who likes to, ahem, dig his heels in?—”
“Ethan can be as stubborn as an ox,” Gigi said. “You might as well say it.”
“Well, your Mr. Godwin strikes me as a man who is similar in this regard. And from personal experience, I can say that issuing an ultimatum to an obstinate fellow is unlikely to be productive,” Xenia said earnestly. “Your threat to end your marriage might have led Mr. Godwin to feel backed into a corner. Therefore, he attacked you when, instead, he should have tried to work out a compromise.”
Gigi mulled over the confrontation.
“I was hurt and angry,” she confessed. “Because of that, I wasn’t the best of listeners. And I think…I think I did lash out at him.”
“You had reason to feel as you did,” Xenia said.
However, the more Gigi reflected upon her behavior, the more she regretted it.
“Conrad is obstinate, but he learned to be that way because of his past. He’s had to fight to survive. People—evil people—have had him against the ropes time and again, and only his determination saved him.”
Oh my stars. Did I corner Conrad, emotionally speaking? Did I escalate our conflict?
“Once cooler heads have prevailed, it will be easier to have a constructive conversation,” Xenia said. “You may come to an understanding yet.”
“I hope you are right.” Gigi sighed. “Do you want to know the greatest irony? I thought that he and I were like Thomas and Rosalinda. That, despite our differences, we were destined to be together…destined to meet here in Chuddums. I even thought that…that…”
“Yes, dear?” Xenia murmured.
“I thought that maybe our love was going to help break the curse.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Yet instead of saving Chuddums, I have helped to destroy it.”
Xenia put an arm around her shoulders. “Speak to Mr. Godwin first. Wait until he tells you his intentions before jumping to conclusions.”
“And if my fears come to pass?” she asked tearfully. “If Conrad chooses his vengeance over our marriage?”
“Then you will deal with that if it happens. With your family by your side.”
“Ad Finem Fidelis.” Evie passed her a handkerchief.
“Thank you both.” Drying her cheeks, Gigi summoned a smile. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
The trio wandered through the square, which was ominously quiet. Since the news had broken that Mr. Pearce had lost everything, including his properties in Chuddums, anxious despair had gripped the village. Gigi knew the feeling. She felt as empty as some of the shop windows, as cold as the breeze that swirled up dried leaves and deposited them along the base of the now obsolete monument.
To distract herself, Gigi focused on Evie. While lovely, Evie wasn’t the chattiest of ladies, which made it difficult to ascertain the situation between her and James. Moreover, when the conversation veered toward more personal topics, Evie deftly redirected it to her work. Gigi was getting an earful about the critical role of pollination when Mrs. Sommers came hurrying toward them.
“Is something amiss, Mrs. Sommers?” she asked.
“Forgive my manners, but I am afraid there is.” The modiste darted her gaze over the square. “Have you seen Kenneth? He was supposed to come back to the shop for lunch, but he did not show.”
“We haven’t seen him,” Gigi said. “But we would be glad to help you look.”
