They were both in unfamiliar surroundings, having to find their way, and they needed to rely on others as well. The baby had her to rely on while she had the Duke. She knew who had the better of the bargain.
At least he hadn’t insisted on sharing a chamber with her. While he wasn’t the husband she wanted, he didn’t seem cruel, and he wanted this marriage to end as much as she did.
Whether that would be enough remained to be seen.
Chapter Eleven
“Where are you?” Lydia called out.
She spread leaves and peered through before abandoning the search in this area and investigating another. Small footprints were left all around her as she moved between the thick shrubs. A worried look rested upon her face, and her lower lip trembled. She wrung her hands together and eventually stopped, feeling utterly helpless.
Her eyes were ringed with tears, and a great swell of sorrow rose within her. She sniffed.
“Please come back,” she said mournfully, as though the words themselves were teardrops that trickled between her lips and poured upon the ground.
It wasn’t long before a comforting presence came to stand by her side. Her mother crouched down and placed a warm handaround Lydia’s shoulders, drawing her into the softness and the warmth to which Lydia had grown so accustomed.
Lydia fell into her mother’s embrace, turning her head towards her mother’s chest. Her shoulders shuddered, and her chest felt tight as raw emotions made their way up from that pit in her stomach where they resided, choking her.
“What’s wrong, darling? It’s a beautiful day, far too fine to be upset. Did Edmund or Charlotte say something to upset you?” her mother cooed.
Lydia looked up and shook her head. Her eyes were watery, but even through this blurred vision, her mother’s beauty was evident. Lydia sniffed and then pointed towards the shrubs.
“Floppy hasn’t come back,” she said.
“Oh,” her mother replied and bowed her head, kissing Lydia softly on the cheek. “Well, I’m sure she’ll come back soon. But she might have other obligations. Perhaps she’s been invited to rabbit balls.”
“This isn’t funny,” Lydia pouted.
The smile fell from her mother’s face, and she adopted a serious expression.
“Of course, it isn’t. I’m sorry. Come on. Let’s look together. Maybe we’ll find her,” she said, taking Lydia by the hand andleading her through the vast garden. Lydia liked to think of it as her own personal forest, and she wished that one day she might meet a fairy who would grant her a wish.
“Why is Floppy so important to you anyway?” her mother asked.
“I’m worried about her. She’s all alone, and she was scared. I don’t want her to be scared again.”
“No, she was very cold and shivering when you found her, wasn’t she? But you wrapped her up in a blanket and took care of her, and that’s what really matters.”
“But then I should take care of her all the time to make sure she doesn’t get hurt or ill.”
Her mother smiled and placed a hand on Lydia’s back.
“That does feel right, doesn’t it? But unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. We can’t hold onto the things we love too tightly otherwise they can’t breathe.”
Lydia cocked her head and looked at her strangely.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if I wanted to protect you, then I might keep you in your room all the time where it’s safe. After all, for all I know, a giant bird might swoop down and pluck you into the air.” Asher mother said this, she lifted Lydia into the air and spun her around. Lydia giggled despite her sadness although it quickly faded when her feet touched the ground again.
“But I’m not a rabbit.”
“No, you’re not. But you are my daughter, and I love you very much, and all I really want to do is keep you safe. But I know that you have to live your life as well. You need to explore all of this, and I’m sure it’s the same for Floppy. What matters is that you’re here for her when she needs you. I’m sure that she knows you’re nearby, just like you know that I will come for you whenever you need me.”
She punctuated her words with a reassuring smile.
Lydia sighed.
