“Half the time I think she’s forgotten we even exist, or if something happened, would she even miss me.”
She hadn’t realized how much their mother’s absence affected him.
“If she would have been around, none of this would have happened.”
“That’s possible,” Cordelia admitted. But it was too hard to determine what the outcome would have been. Nothing was for certain.
“No matter what, I knew you would care. That you would take care of me. That you were the one person I could count on. That was important too, Cordelia, even if I was not very nice.” A tear slipped out of the corner of his eyes.
Despite all the horrible things that had happened, if she had not changed, it is likely Edward would have truly been left on his own with no supervision and anything could have happened to him.
“Thank you for telling me, Edward,” she finally said.
He looked up at her. “I’m still not reading any book I don’t have to.”
Cordelia chuckled. “And I am no longer going to insist that you do. You must determine for yourself what you wish your life to be. At least you’ve been given the option.”
As he left her chamber, Cordelia experienced a moment of peace. Edward would be fine, and she wouldn’t worry about him any more than a sister normally would.
Chapter 26
Damon stoodon the back terrace of Hollybrook Park and watched the sun come up over the sea.
He’d spent a fitful night worrying about Cordelia and what would become of her while Madam Boswell’s words played in his mind that she no longer trusted the vine.
Would she break from him? End their association?
Why didn’t she believe that they’d been chosen for each other?
Movement on the beach below, not far from the entrance to the caves, drew his attention. Cordelia and Adriana walked along the beach, their arms locked, and their heads close together. As much as Damon wanted to go to her, he knew the sisters needed time.
Soon they were running along the beach, then they each sat to remove their shoes and stockings before wading into the water, then screamed as they ran back to avoid the waves.
Damon shouldn’t watch, but he couldn’t turn away and found himself smiling because Cordelia was happy.
The bond between sisters that had once been torn was now mended and in that instant, he knew Cordelia would recover from the ordeal she had endured yesterday. The only question that remained was if she would become his wife.
The two were out there for the longest time and finally fell back on the sand laughing, then he suspected they were talking because they sat up and beside each other for the longest time before both stood, retrieved their stockings and shoes, but did not put them on and turned for the house.
Damon wasn’t certain if he should duck into the manor or remain where he was. Cordelia would see him, but would she realize he’d been watching, and would she be angry that he had decided to stay? Secrets and hiding had done enough damage and even though his transgression was not nearly as bad as what her grandfather had done, Damon would be honest with her if she asked.
As Cordelia and her sister neared the terrace, they looked up and Cordelia’s smile slipped when she saw him.
Adriana nodded and turned in another direction. He assumed she’d enter the manor by another door but Cordelia came to join him.
“You are calling on us rather early.”
“I never left,” he responded.
Cordelia frowned. “When did you arrive?”
“I came here with your family after being with Madam Boswell.” He reached out to take her hands in his, but she was holding her shoes and stockings and did not set them aside.
This was the first rejection of what he hoped was only one.
Pulling his hands back, he slid them into his pockets as he tried to hide his discomfort.
“I did not want to leave until I was assured of your health. Lynwood offered me a room, but I stayed on the settee, in the sitting room so that I would know if you came down the stairs so that I could speak with you.” He then frowned. “You got past me anyway.”
