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“I am unsure, Your Grace. However, the little miss was irate and sobbing for Mrs. Watson’s return.”
Just when I had thought the day had gone perfectly, we were faced with this unexplained chaos. It did not take long for us to reach her room, as we were doing what my mama said never to do, running—well, more fast walking but still very unladylike, and I could hear my mama in the back of my head, yelling at me. It was amusing how mothers stuck with you even when they were far, far away—a mama was everything.
That was why, when I entered Emeline’s room and saw her lying on her bed, curled into a ball, my heart sank. Mrs. Watson had raised her and was all but her mama, whether that was proper or not. Losing her like this would disturb her greatly, and yet the man who dismissed her stood staring out the window, arms crossed over his chest.
Carefully, I walked to Emeline and placed my hand on her back, but she would not respond to me. She just took deep breaths.
“What happened?” I whispered, looking up at Evander.
“Mrs. Watson is dismissed,” he said but did not look at me. “She is…she is not as I thought she was. And I will not allow her to harm this family further.”
“Harm?” I repeated. “How so? From everything I have gathered, she is very dedicated.”
“Lies!” He turned back to me angrily. “That woman is a…” He held his tongue when he saw Emeline flinch at his tone.
“Let us speak outside—”
“No need. You remain with her until we find a new nanny. I will go.” He was already at the door.
“Evander, you have not explained!” I rushed after him. “Eleanor, stay with her a moment. Evander!”
He kept walking.
“Evander!” I shouted, following after him, and when he still did not stop, I ran, truly ran until I was right before him. “Do you not hear me calling after you?”
“Aphrodite, I do not wish to speak—”
“You never wish to speak!” I hollered in his face, more than tired of this. “That is the problem. You say something, but you do not explain. You do not share your thoughts. You merely state what you want, kiss me, and walk away!”
“Aphrodite—”
“No!” I snapped, shaking my head. “I have been trying my best not to push you, not to fight. Not to press upon things you clearly wish to avoid, and it does me no good! Why did you hire more men to watch the grounds? Is it about Fitzwilliam? I do not know, and you do not tell. What did the dowager mean when she brought up my mother? I do not know, and I can ask neither you nor the dowager. Now you dismiss a vital member of the house and you give me no explanation as to why!”
“Aphrodite, I cannot tell you everything you wish to know simply because you wish to know it!” he shouted.
“Then let it not be everything, let it simply be this!”
He inhaled through his nose. “I have already said what—”
“Why are you like this?” I frowned, shaking my head. “Why do you keep pushing me away?”
“I am not pushing you away. I am keeping myself sane!” he shouted. “Has it ever occurred to you that the answers you seek are painful? That we were not all fortunate to live in a loving home, where your mama and papa tease each other and sit by the fire reading together? Has it ever occurred to you that speaking on such things hurts?”
I jumped, for never before had he yelled at me so. “I…”
“You are fortunate, Aphrodite. You are like fresh air or clean water. I wish to be where you are, not have you join me where I am. So let me be silent and move forward.” With that, he stepped around me and I did as he wished—let him go. Alone.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I did not follow him. Instead, I returned to someone who needed me more at this moment. I found Eleanor trying to get Emeline to take the sheet off her head.
“Your Grace.”
“You may go. And later, have things brought from my room. I shall stay with Emeline for the time being,” I said, taking off my shoes and lying on the other side of the bed.
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said as she exited, closing the door behind her.
I petted Emeline’s back gently, not knowing what to say.
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