Theodora was unsure whether it would be all right to get close to Rosalind when her experiment with Alexander could quite possibly fail in a terrible…terrible way.
Would it not crush her already bleeding heart?
“Well?” Evelina suddenly appeared beside her and caused Theodora to jump.
Theodora exhaled loudly. “Do not frighten me like that.”
“I walk like an elephant, Theo. You are the one who was daydreaming.” Evelina shook her head disapprovingly. “Anyway, I think Rosalind will be all right.”
Anna waddled into their sight with Maria in tow.
“She will be more than all right. I mean…she has us.” Anna gestured wildly.
Theodora joined them in laughter, but it did not ease her troubled mind.
CHAPTER 18
Alexander had initially decided that Rosalind would not attend theCorset Chroniclesgathering. He did not know much about this Society but recalled what Spencer said once before. If these women, including Theodora, were truly reading scandalous books and discussing them at these meetings then he could not imagine what Rosalind would learn.
That decision, however, quickly changed when he saw the flicker of light in Rosalind’s eyes after she received a personal invitation from them. Alexander had not seen that light in his sister for a long time. He agreed to let her go and had spent the entirety of the afternoon worrying over her. He knew that Theo would treat her with kindness, but she could have been just as compassionate anywhere.
Alexander had meant to wait at the door to the townhouse yesterday afternoon so he could be there when Rosalind returned home, but business had called him away unexpectedly. He’d spent the remainder of the night conjecturing and wondering how Rosalind fared.. But as he sat across from herat the breakfast table the next morning, he did not regret his decision to let her join the ladies’ group.
“You look well today, Rosie.” She truly did look well.
Her cheeks were red and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips.
“Iamwell,” she said softly.
“Did you enjoy the…meeting yesterday?” His voice caught slightly as his mind immediately went to Theodora, but he shook all thoughts of her away.
She already occupied his mind every night. He could not bear it during the day too.
“I had a wonderful time with them.”
Alexander leaned back in his chair, studying her. She looked lighter and freer as though some invisible weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Theodora was right.
He smirked, knowing she would ensure he admitted she was right and Rosie just needed some friends.
Alexander turned to his sister. “Rosie… may I ask you something?”
Rosalind looked at him cautiously. “Of course.”
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Do you… do you like London?”
She stared at him and looked confused by the question. Of course she did not like it. She was forced to be here. But he couldn’t help but notice how she had changed and perhaps her opinion about London had changed too.
“I know that you miss home but perhaps London is…growing on you? Perhaps now you can enjoy being here? The balls, the crowds, the noise, the expectations… all of it.”
Rosalind looked down at her teacup and for a long moment, she said nothing.
Then, quietly, she whispered, “I do not particularly like it but…I am trying to see the good in being here.”
Her words pierced Alexander’s heart. All he wanted was for her to be happy, like she used to be before the accident.
“I see.” It was all he said as he scratched his chin, deep in thought.
