However, when Marina went down to dinner, her optimism took a blow when she saw that it was only her and Evan at the table again, with Lilly nowhere to be seen. She crossed her arms and glared at her husband. “Where’s Lilly?”
“She’s in her room,” Evan said. “She is not fit to have dinner with us tonight.”
“You’re withholding food from her?” She could not believe the man could be so cruel.
He looked indignant at the accusation. “Of course not. The maids serve her a plate of food every night in her room. She is more comfortable there.”
“She is better off eating with us,” Marina said.
Evan glared at her. “She’s already adjusting to a big change in her life. Let us not change everything all at once. There is security in routine, whether or not you want to see it.”
Unfortunately, Marina saw the wisdom in what he was saying. It could be too much to change too many things all at once. “All right,” she said. “But I hope she will start joining us for dinner tomorrow.”
“Let’s worry about her lessons right now. They will help her occupy her thoughts so she doesn’t …” he broke off, and for a moment, Marina thought he would stop talking altogether. But he continued, even though it sounded like every word pained him. “So she doesn’t think about whatever her nightmares entail.”
He stood up quickly, even though his dinner was only half-eaten. “It’s late. I need to be ready for tonight. Goodnight, Marina.” She stood up as well. “Do you want me to come to her room tonight? When … it happens?”
He shook his head. “No. Not tonight.”
Frustration rose up inside of her.How am I supposed to help make her nightmares go away if I cannot even be in her room when they happen?
But she nodded and sat back down at the table to finish her dinner while Evan left the room. “One thing at a time,” she whispered to herself. “Things cannot change all at once.”
The next days were similar, with Marina helping Lilly with her studies in the morning before resting in the afternoon. Every night, Lilly’s screams woke her up. Tears pricked Marina’s eyes every time it happened.
Chapter Fifteen
“Your Grace, I thought you would like to know that Marina appears to be back to full health,” Carlson told Evan. “Today, she’s spending the full day with Lilly instead of just half a day.”
Relief hit him like a gut punch. He had not realized how worried he had been about Marina’s health until it appeared the problem was resolved. Evan looked up from the papers on his desk to look at his butler, doing his best to school his reaction. “Excellent,” he said. “For Lilly’s sake.”
Of course, I feel relieved. Now Lilly can enjoy the full benefit of having a mother, and I do not have to worry about her losing a second one so soon.
Satisfied that he found the root cause of his emotions, Evan put them aside. “Perhaps Lilly and the duchess can walk around the gardens this evening. Some flowers should be in bloom, and I am sure both of them will enjoy seeing them.”
“Perhaps you should join them, Your Grace,” Carlson said. “After all, I do not think flowers particularly offend you either.”
Evan shook his head. “I think we both know that I will just spoil the mood.”
“I believe your absence spoils it more,” Carlson said. “The duchess is much too kind to say anything, but I can see the disappointment on her face every time she realizes Lilly is not at dinner and that you do not plan to spend quality time with your daughter.”
“I spend time with my daughter every night. The same time every night.” Evan gritted his teeth. “She does not like to speak to me very much. For all I know, I play a significant role in her nightmares.”
Perhaps Marina will be able to get her to open up about her dreams. With time.
He had to keep reminding himself that these things took time. He could not expect his daughter’s nightmares to go away overnight, but he still felt impatient for them to end.
Evan looked at his pocketwatch. “I should go to dinner. I do not want to keep my wife waiting.”
“Excellent, Your Grace. Should I arrange for Lady Lilly to join the two of you tonight? I believe the cook is making Lilly’s favorite meat pie for dinner.”
“Not tonight,” Evan said. “But if Lilly wants a second helping of food, then she can have it.”
Carlson pursed his lips but inclined his head. “I’m sure she will enjoy the food.” He turned to leave before turning back to look at his employer. “I must say that I’m pleased about how sociable you have been since you became a married man.”
Evan frowned. “I do not understand.”
The butler smirked. “Truly? I would think it was obvious. Since your wedding, you have doubled the number of people you socialize with on a daily basis. First, you only talked with one—me. Now you talk with two people—me and Her Grace.”
