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Walking closely by his side, they headed for the door and upon leaving the chamber, he did not lock the door this time. He simply exhaled deeply, feeling overwhelmed, but at the same time liberated from the fear that he had been a victim to all this time.
"Perhaps one day, you can restore that room to the way it was," she suggested cautiously.
The thought frightened him. It almost felt as if he would forget what happened in there and move on. He could not move on, not until he found out what happened that night. However, restoring the chamber was something he could see taking place in the future, in a future where the mystery was solved and perhaps, he was even happy with Leah by his side.
"Edward?" Once again, she managed to pierce through the veil of his turbulent thoughts and bring him back to the present moment.
"I was lost in thought," he explained.
"I know this was a big step for you," she recognized what he had done, and it was all because of her. He hoped that she could recognize that as well, without him telling her. "We have to take these things one day at a time," she advised. "Only in that way will we be able to find out the truth, if we don't rush."
"I know," he agreed, managing to smile as they left the charred chamber of memories behind them, and headed toward another wing of the mansion. "In fact, there is another place I would like to show you."
"There is?" she beamed.
"The greenhouse at the far end of the garden," he revealed. "Have you been there?"
"Not yet," she admitted.
"Well, since this is a day for opening new doors, allow me to open a pleasant door for you today, as well," he smiled, as he led her out of the mansion.
She followed like a little doe, eager and curious. Suddenly, he wondered what it would be like to be loved by a woman like her, truly loved and cherished. Then, even more... what it would be like to kiss her, caress her, make her his.
Such thoughts did him no good. He tried to remember that, but it was hard.
CHAPTER14
Several days had passed and Leah could not help but think that things were slowly changing for the better. Edward had started to open up to her, little by little, and in turn she was doing the same.
"He slept by your side the whole night?" Alicia repeated, sounding surprised.
Leah could understand why. There had been so many stories circulating about him that it was impossible he was capable doing something so sweet. That thought enraged Leah, because Edward was completely unlike how thetonwas depicting him. He didn't deserve to be called a monster, when he did not have a single malicious bone in his body. She was certain of that.
"He said he wanted to help me sleep knowing I was safe," Leah remembered his words, and once again, they filled her with warmth and tenderness for him.
"I never expected him to be so... gentle," Alicia admitted.
"Neither have I," Leah had to say the same thing. "I had been subject to what thetonthinks for far too long. Well, no more," Leah was now adamant. "I think my mother would be very disappointed in me to see me believe thetonover what someone like Edward had to say regarding their own life."
"Your mother never allowed others to think for her," Alicia agreed. "But it is dangerous to have an opinion, especially if it clashes with everyone else's."
"I know that," Leah confirmed. "I mean, just look at Edward. Thetonhas shunned him and labeled him as the guilty party without any proof. My mother would never stand for it. She would solve this mystery, even if her life depended on it."
"Have you talked about that night?"
"A little," Leah nodded, sighing heavily. "You can tell that it is very difficult for him to delve into that subject. Of course, I completely understand him. He cared about his parents deeply and he misses them even more. Several days ago, we entered the room where it all happened, together. He had been keeping it locked up ever since that happened."
"That long?" Alicia gasped. "He just left it... like that... all burned?"
"It was such a frightful sight," Leah revealed, remembering that heavy feeling that settled inside of her, and it wouldn't leave her for the rest of the day, as if the ghosts of his dead parents were trying to communicate with her somehow and tell her that their son needed her help. She could only hope that they could see that she wanted to help him. She would remain by his side, for as long as he wanted her to.
"I can imagine," Alicia shook her head, with a look of dread in her eyes.
"I thought he would speak more," Leah admitted. "That he would want to unburden himself, but I realized then that he keeps all that pain and anguish inside of him, unwilling to bother anyone else with it. I'm afraid that if he keeps things bottled up inside like that, he will get even worse, sick perhaps."
"He is very lucky to have you by his side," Alicia pointed out.
"I think we are both lucky, in a way."
