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“Theodore is not Fitzwilliam! If you had listened, you would know. He has his own—”
“My dear sister, he has fed you nothing but lies. That is what such people do. Which is why he sought you out when you were alone. It is my fault for giving you such liberties, allowing you to go about unaccompanied. From now on, that ends. So does your contact with that man. You are forbidden to see him; do you hear me? Forbidden!”
“Do you know who you are like at this moment?” she asked suddenly, her shoulders dropped. “Father. You look exactly like Father.”
I froze; of all the things I expected to hear from her, that was not one of them, and the disappointment in her eyes as she walked around me, going up the stairs, was wounding.
“Come,” Aphrodite spoke suddenly beside me, her hand upon my arm. “You need air.”
“Do all my siblings have to torture me? Am I to watch for Gabrien next?” I asked her as she led me out, the air not easing me at all.
“Breathe.”
What I needed was peace.
Aphrodite
I was sure something was amiss with her when she returned from London. I thought it must have been the nightmares and sought not to push her. However, there were still times when I saw her look longingly out the window, and it rekindled memories of when I had done the same thing…dreaming Evander would appear and come to me. But still, I said nothing and then became so preoccupied with rescuing Marcella and the conflict between Evander and Fitzwilliam that I had not focused on Verity.
Evander was right. She was allowed much more freedom than a girl of her age and status ought to have, much more than I’d had. But that had been her life since the death of her father, and I did not wish to come now and restrict her.
Over and over again, I saw signs and held my peace. I would not do that any longer. Stepping up to her door, I knocked once, but I heard no reply.
“Verity, it is me,” I called, but still, there was no answer.
Quickly, I opened the door, fearful she would not be there. But she was sitting at her desk, writing in her journal.
“Am I now forbidden privacy in my own room?” she asked, not looking at me.
“You did not answer,” I said as I stepped in and closed the door behind me.
“I did not wish to speak with you.” She continued writing.
“Verity—”
“Evander may have forgiven you for releasing those papers exposing our family, but I have not. You offended me greatly, and now try to speak with me. Why? Does the town require the second edition of my life’s story?” Her words were harsh and very much justified. I had exposed her to ridicule without thought for her feelings.
“Once more, I apologize for that and seek your forgiveness—”
“Then help me convince my brother.” She closed her journal and looked up at me, hopeful. “He is still hurt and angry over Fitzwilliam, and that is why he will not give Theodore a chance. You, your family, even Evander himself, have met him numerous times, and he is not a devious character.”
“People can hide who they truly are, Verity. Evander seeks only to protect you because he cares for you greatly.”
She took a deep breath and shook her head. “No, he does not. He has spoken to me several times about the prospects of my marriage. And here comes someone I have accepted, but Evander refuses outright. Why? Because Theodore is illegitimate. Had he been born the legitimate son of the Marquess of Whitmear, Evander and everyone else would cheer. Theodore could have courted me openly before all.”
“Do you know what it means to be illegitimate? Do you know what could very well happen to you? There is a woman, Mrs. Marie Loquac, and she—”
“I have met her, and Hathor has already recounted to me the story of her mother’s fall from grace. You will not scare me with that,” she replied as she stood up to me, fully incensed and strong in character and will. “There will be many who look down upon us. Many will mock me and others will shun me from society, but I care not. I have never been one for society. All of the people who will scoff at Theodore now are the same ones who accepted Father. I will marry him; I love him. My only fear is…losing another brother in the process.”
I was meant to be one of her guardians, yet she had left me unable to respond, for part of me was far too impressed with her and wondered if I had looked as fearsome to my own father when I stood against him to marry Evander.
“All I ask is that you do not do anything rash or regretful. Let us…think on the matter,” I said to her.
