Page 56 of Snapdragons
“We also came in search of you all,” Violet continued, “becausethis has arrived.” She produced a letter from the small bag hanging from her wrist.
“Lucas,” the Gents said in near unison.
“Actually,” Violet said, “it’s for Niles.”
And the pendulum swung once more.
The letter was handed from Violet to Kes to Aldric to Niles, who didn’t take a single breath as he watched it draw closer. Once it was in his hands, he eyed the inscription, and his heart dropped to the soles of his feet.
“Est-ce queçavient de ta famille?” Henri guessed.
Niles nodded. “Grandfather’s handwriting.” Laws, this was going to be painful. “I’ve been expecting to receive word from him. The only real surprise is that it took him so long to write.”
“What are the chances,” Lucas asked, “that taking as long as he did means he was in a better mood when he wrote than he would have been otherwise?”
Niles gave him a dry look. “What do you think?” There was no avoiding the missive or the words contained therein. He took a quick breath and squared his shoulders. “Do excuse me,” he said and walked out of the outbuilding.
He’d not gone far when he heard Penelope call after him. He turned and saw her rushing toward him.
“Niles.” She reached him, her features pulled in concern. “Is your grandfather terribly angry, do you suppose?”
“He is far more likely to be disappointed. That has always been his way.”
She looked ever more worried. “My father was like that as well. I hated when he was disappointed in me.”
“I hope he would have been proud of you these past few weeks,” Niles said. “You’ve done some remarkably brave things in pursuit of the future you deserve.”
“So have you,” she said firmly.
But he shook his head. “Hiding here instead of facing myfamily was a cowardly act.”
“No. You were attempting to maintain some control of your own life, which should never have been something you were required to give up or fight for.”
“Another of the Gents, Stanley—he’s no longer with us—used to say something very similar to me. ‘It is a travesty how many people have to fight so very hard simply to be granted the right to live the life they ought to have been permitted all along.’” Niles eyed his letter again. He didn’t know what precisely it contained, but he would have to address it either way.
“Would it help if I sat with you while you read it?” Penelope offered. “I won’t peek, I promise.”
His first inclination was to reject the offer in favor of privacy. But his heart pleaded with him too loudly to be ignored. Having her nearby would help. It truly would. “I would appreciate that.” He tentatively held out his hand, unsure if she would take it.
But she did. And the same tingle up his arm and to his heart that he had felt before returned, accompanied by a feeling of relief and peace and reassurance.
“There’s a walled garden not terribly far from here,” he said. “And there’s a bench in there that we can sit on.”
She nodded.
They walked hand-in-hand to the spot he had in mind. But one thing he hadn’t thought of rendered the arrangement untenable. This being England, the bench was terribly wet from repeated bouts of rain that day. Her dress would be ruined and his trousers decidedly worse for the experience should they sit.
“We can just walk,” she suggested. “We do both like being on our feet, after all.”
“Yes, we do,” he said, smiling despite the worry still clutching at him.
She walked at his side. But breaking the seal on the letter and opening it required both his hands, necessitating he release hers.He’d heard the other Gents say that letting go of a lady’s hand was sometimes a very difficult thing to do. He understood that better now.
Niles,
It was an abrupt greeting, lacking in friendliness or nods to social niceties.
I am certain I needn’t tell you the reason for my letter. But as you have not written nor returned to Cornwall, I suspect I do need to express the utter disappointment and frustration we are all feeling. Embarrassment does not begin to touch on what we have experienced as a result of your foolishness and disloyalty. Your mother and grandmother are heartbroken. Your father is confused. I am simply disappointed.
