Emilia nodded. “I can,” she replied. “The boarding school was surrounded by woodlands, and on my days off, I would venture deep into the woods and sketch for hours.”
“That sounds rather peaceful,” Fredrick commented.
“It was,” Emilia agreed before moving towards the next cage.
Fredrick clasped his hands behind his back. “What else did you do on your days off?” he asked, finding himself curious as to how she spent her time.
“I didn’t get very many days off, mind you,” Emilia began, “but sometimes I would travel to where my mother was buried just to tell her that I was all right.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why would you tell her such a thing?”
Emilia turned to face him, her gaze sincere. “By saying it out loud, I hoped to convince myself of such a thing.”
“Just by saying such a thing doesn’t make it come true,” Fredrick argued.
“True, but I do believe the more times you say something, the more likely it will become true,” Emilia said.
“That is poppycock,” Fredrick said.
She smiled. “I see that you are a naysayer.”
“One cannot simply will oneself to be happy.”
“I never said anything about happiness,” Emilia said. “I can have everything that I need, but nothing that I want.”
Fredrick tilted his head slightly. “What is it that you truly desire?”
Emilia averted her eyes, her fingers tracing the edge of her skirt. “Forget I said anything. It is not worth discussing.”
He gently laid his hand on her arm. “I’m afraid you have me intrigued,” he said. “What is it that you want?”
Emilia glanced up at him, her gaze vulnerable. “I want acceptance, to be loved. But it often feels like no matter where I go, I’m destined to fall short.”
“What truly matters is that you accept yourself for who you are, and not concern yourself with how others perceive you,” Fredrick advised.
“Says the rich lord,” she joked.
He chuckled. “I see your point, but I do not agree with it,” he said. “Are you at least enjoying yourself here?”
That was the right thing to say because a smile appeared on her lips. “I do not think I will ever tire of seeing the elephant.”
“Yes, Chunee is rather popular amongst the visitors,” Fredrick said. “He is often paraded in the streets just outside of the menagerie to attract guests.”
“Can you imagine ever trying to ride an elephant?” she asked.
Fredrick shook his head. “I have no desire to ever ride an elephant and neither should you. It would be far too dangerous.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I doubt I will ever be given such an opportunity,” she said. “I can barely ride sidesaddle.”
“You appeared to do just fine when we went on our ride through Hyde Park.”
“That is because you seem to overlook what is right in front of you,” Emilia said, her gaze turning to the many cages that lined the path.
Fredrick took a moment to appreciate her lovely face and the graceful curve of her neck. He had a feeling she might not fully grasp her own beauty.
Anette’s voice came from up ahead. “Fredrick. Emilia,” she called out. “The guide has agreed to show us the hippopotamus, but we must go now. If we wait too long, we will miss the feeding.”
“I’m not quite sure what a hippopotamus is, but I am curious to find out,” Emilia responded before she quickened her pace towards Anette.
