Her chin held high, shoulders squared, back straight, she turned to his mother. “I am to see Madam Boswell. You will join me.” It wasn’t a request. It was a bloody command and Damon quickly looked to his mother, awaiting her response. Nobody ever told his mother what to do.
“You remember,” his mother said quietly, not the least bit affronted.
What had she done that Cordelia remembered?
“Not all, but enough that I need the whole of it.”
“Very well.”
Damon glanced about and everyone was as puzzled as he.
Cordelia turned and marched away, his mother followed as did Damon because he wanted to know what the hell was going on.
Once they were on the other side of the clearing and about to cross the fields, they encountered Edward, Lynwood and Miss Adriana running toward them.
Cordelia didn’t even stop to acknowledge them, but marched forward.
“Your guest tried to kill my sister?” Lynwood asked.
“Yes, but she didn’t succeed.” Damon gestured to Cordelia’s retreating back. “But something else happened and I’m as perplexed as you. She remembered something while out on the sea and all I know is that she may blame Madam Boswell and my mother.”
Lynwood frowned in confusion. “What?”
“That’s all I know,” he dismissed Lynwood and followed Cordelia.
Lynwood stayed with him, as did Edward and Adriana.
“What is wrong with Cordelia?” Edward asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her like this,” Adriana answered.
So at least he wasn’t the only one perplexed and concerned at Cordelia’s odd behavior.
Madam Boswell stood as Cordelia strode toward her.
“Edward told me what happened. You are unharmed?” she asked cautiously.
“I faced my fear,” Cordelia responded.
Madam Boswell placed a hand over her heart. “I knew the day would come. Though painful, I am glad that it finally has.”
Cordelia knewthat what she presented was angry, which she was. Inside, emotions rioted from anguish, fear, betrayal and resentment. Until she knew the whole of what had happened to her, she would not know what reaction to display to whom. She had feared that Madam Boswell and Lady Chandos would deny everything and claim that the memories of a ten-year-old couldn’t be accurate. Cordelia knew in her heart that what she remembered was not fabricated. At least they did acknowledge the truth, whatever it may be, and their duplicity.
She turned to Lady Chandos. “Why did you do that to me?”
“It wasn’t me. I tried to help.”
“Come Cordelia, sit by the fire,” Madam Boswell said.
“I want answers,” Cordelia demanded.
“This will take some time in the telling, depending on what you recall.”
“What does facing a fear have to do with memories?” Damon asked.
“In good time,” Madam Boswell said. “Everyone, sit,” she ordered. “It is good your family is here. It is important that you know.”
Cordelia didn’t care who was there. She just wanted answers for herself. “Why?” she demanded.
