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She thought about it for a second, then nodded. "I never saw it like that."
"I'm not saying he has not wronged his wife, his child and ultimately, your mother," Edward clarified. "I'm just saying that he could not have been the one to execute any sort of revenge because he doesn't have it in him to do so, to act on it, because it requires conscious thought, planning and most important of all, cunning bravery. I mean, you've seen him. Does he look like someone capable of planning out the perfect murder?"
"No," Leah had to admit.
"He might be capable of such a thing in the spur of the moment," Edward added. "In that he could be pushed over the edge. But that would mean that he would leave all sorts of tracks that would lead back to him. Whoever murdered your mother has done so meticulously, which makes him a very dangerous person."
"I think I know what you are trying to say," Leah finally agreed, with a heavy sigh. "I was just hoping that we would be closer to finding out who was behind this. It turns out now that we are nowhere nearer than we were before."
"Don't be discouraged," he assured her, pressing his hand gently on her shoulder. As if burned, he quickly pulled away. He didn't want her to think that he would try to take advantage of the situation, where she was feeling vulnerable. All he wanted to show her was that he was here for her. He gave her his promise that he would help her get to the bottom of this, and he meant it.
"Thank you," she surprised him with the tone of her voice.
"For what?" he smiled back.
"For being here," she explained, shrugging, as if she wasn't exactly sure how to say what she wanted to say. "For doing this with me. I know you don't have to."
"I told you, I know how you feel," he explained. "And you are a woman. I cannot possibly allow you to roam the streets on your own, talking to people like that man." He frowned at he thought what could have happened if he wasn't there to put that man in his place. He would have gladly planted him a facer, for even speaking to Leah like that, but he didn't want to frighten Leah by being aggressive in front of her.
"So, you are my protector then?" she wondered, her voice with that higher pitch of intricacy.
"In a matter of speaking, yes," he confirmed, amused. "Officially, I am your husband. Everything else is up to us to decide."
He had no idea why he said this. Truth be told, he wanted to keep their communication open. He wanted to make her see that they could be more than just husband and wife on paper, with everyone leading their separate lives, which was as they agreed before. Now, he had changed his mind, but he couldn't tell if she changed her mind as well.
"We should head back," she told him, ignoring his comment. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "It's getting late."
"Yes, we've spent the whole day outside, talking to people."
"And we have nothing to show for it," she sighed.
"We don't know who did it," he agreed. "But we know who didn't do it. That's something."
She smiled. It was a weak smile, but he still welcomed it. They headed back to the carriage, which took them home. They still had a long way to go, but he had a comforting feeling that they were getting there.
CHAPTER12
"Leah?" She could hear her mother's voice clearly, but she could not see her in the thick fog.
"Mother, I'm here!" she called back. "Where are you?"
"I am here, Leah! Come, find me!" That voice beckoned to her so painfully that it tore Leah apart. Still, she could not find her way in the darkness. She kept wandering left and right, until that bloodcurdling scream was heard again, just like every time, and she woke up in sweat, breathing heavily.
It took her a few moments to calm down and remember that it was just another nightmare. It was no worse than any of the others, yet every time she had it, she felt more and more exhausted afterwards as if it was taking a greater toll on her every single time. Her heart was still beating violently when she got up from bed, knowing well that she would not be sleeping any longer. After such a nightmare, she never could go back to sleep. She was far too afraid that the nightmare would recur.
Thinking that perhaps reading would be her only option to spend the following several hours until morn, she headed toward the library. It had always been a refuge for her. Not this particular library, but she was hoping to make it her haven in this place which still did not feel quite like a home.
As soon as she approached the door, she noticed a light flickering underneath. That could mean only one thing. Someone was there. She faltered, thinking what she ought to do. She had spent the entire day with Edward. Initially, she thought that would be awkward, but it was anything but, much to her surprise. Perhaps talking to him once again would bring some comfort after such a nightmare. Led by this belief, she knocked on the door gently, then without waiting to be invited in, she pushed the door open. She thought he would be surprised to see her. But there was no surprise on his face, only interest. He was holding a book in his lap, which he placed down immediately upon seeing her.
"Another nightmare?" he asked, shocking her to her very core. How could he tell? She was certain that she had managed to calm down sufficiently so that she seemed at ease. Only, it appeared that he was able to read her far better than she thought. It both thrilled her and frightened her at the same time, this knowledge that he might be able to read her mind just by looking at her.
"Yes," she decided to admit, without much discussion. That was the last thing she was in the mood for. Somehow, just being here and not alone was enough to make her feel slightly better.
"My guess is that usually, after a nightmare like that, sleep is an impossible feat," he continued, as he looked at her. She was wearing just a robe over her thin nightgown, but she didn't mind his inquisitive gaze.
"You know everything," she smiled, disarmed by his honesty.
"I told you that we've both come to know real tragedy," he reminded her, getting up and putting the book back on the shelf. Then, he turned his attention to her once again. His gaze was truly captivating, but not only that. There was something else in there, something she could not quite decipher. And that something almost made her melt.
