“Why?” Damon demanded. Cordelia clearly didn’t wish to know more. “There is no purpose in making her suffer more than she has.”
“Because if she doesn’t see now, it will haunt her, and she will not be able to escape the memories she does have. It could alter her future once again.”
His mother looked to him. “It could alter yours.”
Damon didn’t understand how something that happened eleven years ago, and to a child, could change anything now.
His mother waved her hand over the crystal again.
“It is your fault Adriana nearly drowned.”
Cordelia sank into the chair in front of his desk. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”
“Your mother abandoned you as soon as she could toss off the black. No doubt she is in London seeking all manner of immoral pleasures. With your older brothers being away at school, seeing to your younger siblings now falls to you.”
“Me?”
“It is probably already too late for your older sisters. Diana will likely turn out to be just like your worthless mother. Miranda is always dreaming up in that attic, just like my brother, Jonathan, used to do. Therefore, the care for your younger siblings must fall to you.”
“Me?” the child squeaked again.
“I do not have time. I don’t even want the lot of you here, but I have little choice. You are the one who must now make certain that Adriana and Edward stay out of mischief and do not come to harm. You are to protect them since your mother can’t be bothered.”
“I can’t,” Cordelia cried.
“You are the only one with sense and intelligence. Thank God, you like books and are boring to have about because you normally don’t cause trouble.”
“You aren’t really boring, Cordelia,” Edward whispered.
“It’s likely you’ll grow up to be a spinster anyway. You are not as pretty as your sisters and have no personality so this will be good practice for when you become a governess.” He got up from his desk and poured a glass of brandy then returned to his seat as if this was a casual conversation. “If you were the only one, I’d have peace. There is nothing remarkable about you and you’re easy to overlook because you’re quiet. Unfortunately, you have siblings.”
Tears were streaming down the child’s face and Damon wanted to pull Cordelia into his arms and assure her that none of what her grandfather said was true.
How could one man be so bloody cruel?
The ache in his chest was deep and painful. If this is what he was experiencing, how much worse was it for Cordelia? How horrible had it been then?
Her grandfather leaned forward and stared at her. “Adriana almost died today. If she had, it would have been your fault. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she mumbled.
“It is up to you to keep them safe. You will be their mother since yours can’t be bothered. You must make certain they don’t do anything foolish and that no harm comes to them.”
“Yes, sir. I will take care of them and keep them safe. I promise.”
“Good girl. I knew I could count on you. Now go away.”
Fog filled the crystal again. The memory or the vision Madam Boswell and his mother had seen was over.
“That bloody bastard,”Adam ground out.
A handkerchief was handed to Cordelia from behind and she glanced up to Damon. He was rather blurry, and it was then she realized that tears had filled her eyes and coursed down her cheeks. She hadn’t even been aware she had been crying but her cheeks were wet. Had Damon’s hands not been on her shoulders, offering comfort, she couldn’t have stayed seated because she so badly wanted to run away.
He hadn’t been holding her in place. His touch was gentle and during her grandfather’s horrible words, his thumbs had traced little circles on the backs of her shoulders. It had been soothing and calming. A comfort. He’d help in the only way he could. Had she wished to get up and leave, he would have let her, and for that she was grateful.
But what did he think of her now?
Her tears had been silent as the weight pressed down on her chest and her throat closed, but she kept as much in as she could, and she wouldnotlet it out now. She’d not crumble under the pain of the memories, just as she’d tried not to crumble under the responsibility and burden placed on her that day.
