She swung her gaze back on Ashton. His expression was unreadable, but then again, he had been through quite a bit these last couple of days. “How would you feel about that?” she asked him.
He shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet.” He managed a small smile.
They reached Mrs. Phelps’ home and Ashton carried her inside and up to her bedroom. Nicole led the way, turning on the lamps. After he lay the other woman down and turned toward Nicole, his eyes widened and he hitched a breath.
“Nicole, your face is swollen.” With much tenderness, he ran his fingers over her jaw. “You better take care of that before it bruises.”
“I will.” She couldn’t stop staring into his eyes. She enjoyed seeing how much he cared.
“I...I want to thank you for everything you have done to help me.”
She nodded. “It was my pleasure.”
“What are you going to do now that the case has been solved?”
“I don’t know exactly. From past experience, the detectives are given a few days—maybe even a few weeks if we’re lucky—to rest up before we are handed another assignment. I’ll probably visit my relatives in Meol during that time.”
“I’m sure they’ll enjoy seeing you again.”
Her heart was full of emotion and she wanted so much to fall into his arms and confess her love, but she wanted him to make the first move. He knew she was sorry since she had repeated it many times already. Now it was up to him to forgive her, and her heart beat faster with every second she waited.
But he didn’t say it. Instead, the smile slowly left his face and he turned back to Mrs. Phelps lying on her bed.
“I suppose you should get her out of those wet clothes before she catches a chill.”
A sob rose in her throat, but she refused to release it. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked quickly in hopes of making them disappear. “Yes, I’ll get to that now.”
When she turned to the older woman, Ashton walked out of the room. Once he shut the door, her tears fell freely. That proved it right there...Ashton would never forgive her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I really think you should come with us tonight, dear.” Aunt Anita gently patted Nicole’s cheek as she walked past her into Emily’s bedroom. “The Langston’s have the best balls, and I’m sure you will enjoy yourself.” The older woman stopped beside her daughter and adjusted the bell-shaped sleeves on Emily’s blue gown.
Here was finally a gown that didn’t make Emily look like a little girl, and Nicole was going to miss seeing their friends’ eyes widened in shock when men realized how lovely Emily really was.
“I thank you, Aunt Anita, but I’m really not in the mood to socialize.”
Emily looked at Nicole through the mirror, frowning. “But it has been nearly a month since you were here last and we haven’t done anything exciting. I want my fun and energetic cousin back again.”
Nicole’s chest ached with loneliness, once more. She blamed Ashton for her misery. He could have apologized. He could have forgiven her by now, but he hadn’t.
Slowly, she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her ire. No, she was to blame, not him. “Soon, Emily. I shall be back to myself very soon, I assure you. It’s just not going to be tonight. I’m sorry, but it’s still too early. I fear I would be a complete bore at your friend’s ball. Besides,” she shrugged, “I cannot find my dancing shoes.” She offered her best smile under her duress situation. “I can only find one shoe. Obviously, I’m so absent-minded that I’ve lost my shoe, and I fear my mind will get worse at the party and I’ll be an embarrassment to you all.”
“Oh, dear.” Aunt Anita walked to Nicole and took hold of her hands. “Do you want me to stay and keep you company? I hadn’t realized you were out of sorts this way.”
“No, I shall be just fine. You all go tonight and enjoy yourself. I’ll curl up on the sofa with a good book.”
“Well, if you say so.” Emily patted her ringlets into place one last time before turning away from the mirror. “Are we ready now, Mother?”
“Your father and I were just waiting for you, dear.”
Nicole followed behind her aunt and cousin until they reached the front door where Uncle Michael waited for them. She waved as they left, and closed the door. Tears formed in her eyes and she swept them away with her fingers. The last time her relatives had attended a ball, it was the one where she had met Ashton. A miracle had happened that night when she met the man of her dreams.
Memories swarmed all around her, and her tears couldn’t stop falling. She went to the parlor and sat on the sofa, hugging her knees to her chest as she rocked back and forth. Oh, why couldn’t Ashton forgive her? It had been so hard not to run back to Liverpool and talk to him. She had discovered that he stayed there instead of returning to his new home in Meol. Of course, she figured it was because he knew she was here and that was why he stayed in Liverpool.
Taking a deep breath, she struggled to keep herself from crying. It surprised her that she even had tears left since she’d been crying so much for the past few weeks. She wiped the moisture from her eyes one last time and stood from the sofa. Perhaps she should do what she’d told her aunt she was going to do—find a good book and read.
She left the parlor and headed toward the library. Just as she reached the room, there was a knock on the front door. She hurried to the door and opened it. Surprised at the person standing across from her, she gasped. “Mrs. Phelps. What are you doing here?”
