‘I mean Henry. Don’t you see? He is the only man who has looked at me as a woman since the accident. It is alright for you. You just have to walk into a room and men fall silent. I don’tthink you realise just how beautiful you are, and that in itself has a charm of its own. Me . . . I have been invisible since the accident, someone to avoid. And my withered legs are a constant reminder of why I am being treated like this. I thought this was how it was going to be, outwardly pretending to accept it, but inwardly dying a little more each day. Henry’s changed all that. When he visits, when he writes, he makes me feel . . .’ Amelia searched for the right word.
‘Special?’ suggested Grace.
Amelia shook her head. ‘It’s more than that, Grace, so much more. He makes me feel alive. He makes me want to live.’
Grace wrapped her arms around Amelia as she began to cry, her body heaving with rasping jerks as she tried, but failed, to speak.
‘Hush, Amelia. You don’t need to explain. Please don’t cry.’
Amelia withdrew a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her cheeks. ‘You don’t understand, Grace. I thought I would never have the chance of marriage, but Henry has changed all that. He wants tomarryme.’ She clasped a fist to her chest. ‘Me! A cripple!’
‘Don’t talk like—’
‘I have the chance of becoming a wife and a mother. Don’t take that away from me.’
‘I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.’
‘If Talek found out about Henry’s new contract and that I sided with him, he would refuse to have Henry in the house and I would never see him again. I’m not like you, Grace. I can’t just board a carriage and go wherever and whenever I please.’
‘You are asking me to keep quiet?’
‘I ambeggingyou to keep quiet. The extra profit is going to be reinvested. We will all profit from Henry’s excellent contract.’
Amelia’s eyes bore red threads of anguish and pulled at Grace’s heart. ‘But if it is such a good business decision, why keep it quiet from Talek?’
‘Because Talek would not allow it. You know what high morals he has. He expects everyone to think the same way as he does and doesn’t forgive easily.’ Amelia blew her nose delicately. ‘What if I ask Henry not to renew the contract again? Although I don’t see what harm it can do. He only got a better price than his competitors . . .’ Amelia reached for her hand. ‘Please, don’t tell Talek. He’ll be angry and never forgive me for not sharing it with him.’
The burden of discovery grew heavier by the moment. ‘I don’t know . . . bad things happen when secrets are kept.’
‘No harm has come from it and the truth would only hurt Talek. Please, Grace, I beg you.’
Grace withdrew her hand and stood, still unsure what to do.
‘I helped you when you needed someone. I opened my home to you, Grace. I gave you a job so you could earn your keep and not feel beholden to us.’
Grace began to wring her hands as she considered her options. Amelia was distraught and begging for her help, but she was right, she had helped her in her time of need. Yet could she keep a secret like this from Talek? She was only now beginning to know him and she liked what she saw. She closed her eyes to shut Amelia out.
‘Please, Grace.’ She felt Amelia tug her dress as if she was no higher than a child. ‘Please forget what you found.’
‘I can’t forget . . .’ she opened her eyes, and saw Amelia’s pained expression looking up at her ‘. . . but I won’t tell Talek. On one condition.’
‘Name it.’
‘That the practice will stop.’
The door opened and Talek walked in, startling them both. Talek’s searching gaze darted from one to the other.
‘Amelia? You are upset? Why?’
Amelia laughed. ‘You know what I’m like. I get maudlin when I haven’t been out much. Grace was comforting me.’ She turned to her and forced a bright smile, her lips trembling as she tried to maintain the façade.
Talek’s steady gaze settled on her too, holding her firmly with invisible hands. ‘It appears your mood is contagious, Amelia. Grace looks as if she has maudlin thoughts of her own.’
She was already beginning to question her promise to Amelia, but now, under Talek’s thoughtful gaze, she felt she could not breathe.
‘I could take you to the coast.’ Talek’s suggestion was just what Amelia needed. It was time to leave them as a day trip between brother and sister had no place for her. She had almost passed him when he added, ‘You too, Grace.’
Talek smiled at her, halting her in her step. There was no hint of sarcasm or lack of warmth, and it was directed only to her.
