Page 40 of Bluebell’s Fate

Bell swallowed, feeling completely exposed. “It’s not my favorite imagery.”

“That might be true, but there is wisdom in it. You must allow yourself to be known, inside and out, for Nathaniel to be able to truly love you—even at the risk of being hurt.”

Bell only nodded. What else could she say? She was hopeful for her relationship with Nathaniel to grow, but she’d also been holding back. Very few people accepted Bell’s eccentricities. Even fewer loved her despite them. She embraced Rose and willed back the tears gathering behind her eyes. “I’ll do my best. I love you, Rose. I’ll write to you soon.”

“I love you, too, Bell.” Rose kissed Bell’s cheek.

They walked outside to find Frederick and Nathaniel waiting next to the carriage. Mrs. Carter wrapped a few biscuits from the untouched tea tray and handed them to Rose for the journey. Frederick bowed over Bell’s hand and wished her luck before he handed Rose up into the carriage.

When the door clicked shut, Nathaniel came and stood next to Bell. He looked pensive, and if Bell could guess his thoughts, she believed he wanted to write something down in his notebook.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt.”

Nathaniel put his arm around Bell’s waist as they watched the carriage drive down the road. “You’ll be incredible. I have no doubts.”

Bell’s heart swelled. “Thank you. Did Frederick need anything?” She looked over at Nathaniel from the corner of her eye.

He cleared his throat. “He only wants for the comfort of his wife.”

Bell waited for him to elaborate, for him to tell her what they talked about. He didn’t. She didn’t push the topic. If he turned the question toward her, she’d feel like she would need to tell him that he had to figure out how to turn her inside out without ripping her apart. The entire concept was terrifying. “What should we do with the blue room now?”

Nathaniel smiled a crooked grin. “With any luck, we can have it prepared for when your godmother arrives.”

“Really?” Bell squeezed his arm and instantly fought a blush; she found she liked the action far too much.

“I have asked her to come. Although I cannot be certain she will make it. Usually, I am her traveling companion.”

Bell had faith in her godmother’s abilities to visit, despite challenges to get here. She needed her to come and wanted her to stay in the cottage when she did. “Well, let’s get back to work. What else can we do?”

They walked back inside, and Nathaniel led her to the foot of the stairs.

It was odd that Bell did not miss Gardner Manor. She’d grown up there, in all of its gaudiness and grandeur, but the only part of her childhood home that she missed were the woods.

Nathaniel squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you go look at the room and decide what you’d like to change. I need to write a few things down, and then I’ll join you.”

Bell smiled to herself. She was right. Nathaniel and that notebook were inseparable. In fact, she found herself growing a little jealous of the bundle of parchment. “I’ll see you soon, then.”

Chapter Twenty-six

Nathaniel watched Bell as she glided up the stairs. He felt like he was living in a dream. He couldn’t have planned a more perfect day. Working together with Bell, now that she didn’t believe him to be a cad, had been delightful. And now, he held information that he must write down, thanks to Frederick. He tore his eyes from his wife and took hasty steps toward the parlor and the small table.

Pulling the small notebook from his breast pocket, he smiled as he wrote. Frederick had informed him that the Gardner family was raised in great regard to their names. Thus, Lady Rose had been raised to be perfect. Nathaniel needed to write down everything he knew about bluebells. He started with what Bluebell had revealed about herself:

Bluebells are heavily connected to legends of fairies. One can get lost if they pick a bluebell.

According to legend: if a person wears a crown of bluebells, they cannot lie.

Bluebells live in wooded areas, but they also grow along hedgerows.

Bluebells are blue, and the stock bends over so the flowers hang their heads.

Bell mentioned something about hearing a bell in the woods…what was she referring to?

Nathaniel looked over his list. Nothing seemed to stick out as vital information. Well, not currently. If he’d been told that plucking a bluebell would have gotten him lost in those woods, that would have been helpful at the time. Or would it have? Would he have given a silly legend even a second thought? Likely not. He needed to learn more about the stories and facts that had shaped Bell into the woman she was now—and he didn’t plan on waiting.

Nathaniel closed his notebook and put it back inside his pocket. He felt much like a private investigator, trying to collect facts and solve a puzzle. He jogged up the stairs and turned down the small corridor to the blue room. A gentle breeze flowed through the doorway. He walked in and found Bell, leaning halfway out the window looking at something below.

Taking tentative steps toward her, Nathaniel could feel his smile growing. He put a hand on the small of her back, and she jolted up.