“Out of spite. He had a dispute with my father years ago. Von Gruner wished to marry my mother, but she chose my father.” He led her to the front door. “Grandmama also insulted him, and he’s a proud man. So he let Maiden Hill rot. In just a few years of neglect, the house has started to crumble.”
The front door screeched on its hinges like a cry for help when he pushed it open. A flutter of wings welcomed them when they stepped inside. From a hole in the roof, dry leaves and dirt poured into the majestic entry hall. Birds nested in the nooks on the walls.
“Von Gruner ordered the demolition of the house, but he changed his mind after the work had started. And that’s the result.” Anthony’s body tensed, and his eyes glowed with turmoil.
A shiver crawled down her neck as eerie noises echoed in the hall.
“My bedroom is upstairs.” His voice cracked, and pain slipped through. “We were happy here. We were a proper family. What is the point of being powerful if I can’t save the house my parents loved the most? My father proposed to my mother here. He died here. I was born here and spent the most wonderful years with my parents. My father believed parents should spend as much time as possible with their children. We had a nanny and a governess, but he cared a lot about feeding us when we were children and sharing our meals. Mother loved singing. Her sweet voice echoed through the house.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve talked too much.”
“I’m so sorry.” She closed her hands around his. “It’s cruel to deprive you of this place and treat it like that.”
He shuddered. “What hurts the most is that I failed my parents.”
“No. You didn’t sell Maiden Hill.”
“But I can’t get it back. Von Gruner doesn’t even want to talk to me.”
“Can I help?”
He averted his gaze from the sweeping stairs to focus on her. A slow smile transformed his face from desperate to peaceful. “Thank you.”
“I’m pretty useless, as you know?—”
“No, I don’t.”
“But if you need help, I’m here.”
“You’ve already helped me a lot just by being here.”
They remained in silence for a few moments, listening to the birds’ song. Not as eerie as she’d thought.
She nudged him with her elbow. “Do you know what I’m thinking?”
“Something about climbing over the roof to jump through the hole?”
She laughed, and he focused on her as if he were hearing the most enchanting sound. “I’d love to see this house restored to its former beauty. Imagine rushing down those sweeping stairs.”
He burst out laughing, scaring a group of collared doves. “Please never change, Isabella.”
“You’re the first one to ever tell me that. Aside from my papa.”
He offered her his arm. “We should return to the castle.”
“Yes, and I promise I won’t do anything silly.”
“That’s a shame. I enjoy your silly things.”
“I almost killed you last night. When I thought about that this morning, I felt so ashamed of myself.” And Mother’s speech had made her think.
“You can be yourself with me. As for my grandmama, I’d suggest you avoid knocking her off her feet.”
“Heavens. She would ask the queen to expel me from the country.”
He laughed again.
As they walked the same path as the previous day, her muscles loosened, releasing the tension that had tormented her for the whole night.
“So you want to be a gardener.” He sounded genuinely curious.
