“Went astray,” he said under his breath.
Edith sank her teeth into her bottom lip. The two sisters stared at each other as the air charged with tension.
“I have to say the painting is stunning,” he said. “Mr. Carter is a great artist but a gambler. Rumour has it, he had to sellhis goddesses to pay his creditors. Anyway, I bought the Star Maiden because I was worried about Edith’s reputation.”
Edith blushed. “Thank you.”
“What a relief.” Lady Lancaster exhaled.
“Besides, now that Edith is a doctor of medicine, she ought to be careful about how she spends her free time,” Perry said, “and about the company she keeps.”
Lady Lancaster angled towards her sister. “I don’t understand. A doctor?”
Edith grimaced. She tried to speak a couple of times, but not a word came out.
“What is it?” he asked.
Lady Lancaster nudged Edith again. “Please. Explain.”
Edith took a deep breath. “Perry, what I tried to tell you without success the other night is that I’m not a doctor. I never went to medical school. I lied in my letters.” Each word came out with effort as if she forced herself. “I lied to you.”
Perry took a moment to understand what she said. “You didn’t go to the London School of Medicine for Women?”
Lady Lancaster’s eyes widened. “Heavens.”
Edith shook her head, her facial muscles tensing.
A moment of thick silence stretched as Perry mulled over her confession . She wasn’t a doctor.
He didn’t understand. “Why lie?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think I was a failure,” she said.
“Oh, Edith.” Lady Lancaster pressed a finger to her temple.
“And lying was a better option?” He couldn’t believe it. All that time, he’d admired Edith for her strength and resilience in studying for years, and it was all a lie.
“I’m sorry. Lying in a letter was all too easy. It was like writing my personal diary and writing about my dreams. It felt so liberating to put my dreams on paper.” Her words came out softly, but the truth in them roared. “I know it doesn’t makesense to you, but writing those letters made me feel better, and once I started lying, I couldn’t stop. One lie pulled forth another, and the dream was too beautiful. The more time passed, the harder it was to tell the truth.” She spoke faster now, the words tripping over each other. “At least there was someone, you, who didn’t think I was a disappointment. But studying was too hard for me after the accident. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t breathe when I picked up a book. Thinking about memorising names and facts was too overwhelming for me. It was a curse. The books I so adored were now my enemies. The harder I tried to study, the harder I wanted to run away.” She swallowed hard, taking deep breaths.
“I had no idea.” Lady Lancaster shook her head.
He ran a hand over his face. A combination of opposing feelings battled inside him. There was frustration, disbelief, and a healthy dose of sorrow for her. Edith’s lies, combined with her behaviour in the Scarlet Room and the painting, displayed a rather worrying situation.
He handed her his handkerchief. “Here.”
She didn’t gaze up when she took it. “When I wrote those letters, I felt different as if I were someone who mattered.”
“You do matter,” he said, his heart aching for her. “A lot.”
“I had no idea you still dreamed of becoming a doctor. If you want to study, why don’t you start again?” Lady Lancaster said.
“It’s too late.” Edith wiped her face. “I’m not sure I can start studying again.”
“It’s not too late,” Perry said.
“I’m sorry. I know I have no excuses.” Shaking, she straightened. “I lost control of my lies and of my life.”
Bloody hell. He needed to think about the revelation. He hated to admit he was deeply disappointed and felt like a fool.
The fire crackling in the hearth was the only sound for a few intense minutes.
“I’ll make amends,” she said with a determination that reminded him of the Edith he knew.
“I won’t show the painting to anyone,” he said.
“I know. I trust you. But I ought to take my responsibilities, and I’ll start immediately.” She bowed her head. “Thank you for your kindness, Perry. Marianne, shall we leave now? Please?”
“Of course. Thank you, Ravenscroft.” Lady Lancaster seemed on the verge of bursting out crying as well. “At least we know the painting is safe with you.”
He wished Edith’s heart was safe from breaking.
