Page 25 of In Compromise with the Earl
“Why?” Oswald replied. “Besides what I told you the other night, you do not know me at all.”
Her last pebble sunk in the water, leaving a wave of ripples that soon faded away. “You’re right, I do not know you, but that doesn’t stop me from having some intuition.”
“And what do your sensibilities tell you?” Oswald asked.
“If you have taken so much time away from your peers and the world beyond your gates, you must be in mourning from a broken heart,” Aphrodite said, while facing the water. “In spite of that, you still would like love, but might fear it.”
While she was right, it rankled Oswald that had she seen right through him, as if he was a ripped cheesecloth. His jaw tightened. “You’re wrong.”
“I may be,” she replied with a shrug. “But I do not think so, and before you think me holier-than-thou when it comes to fielding shame, my father is the cause of mine. There are little expectations of me because my father has been claiming any lady that looks at him twice.”
Coming to her side, Oswald replied, “People take you for a lightskirt.”
“Half of thetonthinks I was ruined years ago,” Aphrodite scoffed. “I’ve tried my best to correct them, but I am only one voice tilting against windmills.”
“I haven’t even tried to come against those who think meweak,” Oswald said pointedly. “It matters little to what others think of me, when they have not been in my shoes.”
She gave him a thin smile. “I wish I had your indifference.”
“It’s a gift, or mayhap a curse, born from loneliness and apathy,” he replied. “It’s not hard to come by, but it is difficult to climb out of the pit you have sunk yourself in. The indifference stays with you like an old friend.”
“It saddening to hear that,” Aphrodite said quietly.
For the first time in a while, Oswald found himself at a loss for words. Aphrodite’s jovial mask had slipped, and he was starting to see her for what she had hidden from the world, a scarred soul. The spark of life that had drawn him to her was dimmed; she was truly terrified of being married off to the Duke. “Sprite—”
She turned and flashed him a thin smile, “We should get back. On our own, our absence might not be noticed, but combined—someone is going to say something, and Lady Pandora will not be pleased.”
They headed to the tree line. “What is your connection with her again?”
“She was a schoolmate in finishing school,” Aphrodite replied. “We never connected with many things, while I was constantly in trouble, she toed the lines.”
“Yet, her occupation is in gossip,” Oswald shook his head while brushing a clump of leafy twigs from his face. “How is that a parallel?”
“I cannot tell you,” Aphrodite shrugged. “We have not been in touch for over two years and even when we were at the same institution, we were never close. I can only imagine that something happened to her during those years.”
Musing over her words, Oswald nodded. “Heartbreak possibly?”
“I cannot tell,” she sighed as they broke through to the lands that led to the Manor. “But I know I must tread carefully here.”
“I blatantly told Lady Ravenswood that I have no faith in her actions,” Oswald added. “If I do get matched well and marry, it will be a miracle.”
“I suppose we have different goals,” Aphrodite said. “I must avoid getting paired off.”
He watched her move away, before he headed to the stable and his waiting horse. He didn’t know where else but with his faithful steed he could air out his thoughts. While Goliath could not talk, Oswald found there was more peace in his heart when he voiced his concerns instead of keeping them inside.
He stepped into the stables and drew back at the sight or chestnut stallion in the other stall; he could bet that was the horse Aphrodite had borrowed. The horse was magnificent, and he wondered if he could coax Aphrodite out to ride with him some day.
But why? Despite the attraction, we’re slated for different paths.
Aggravated by battling with his emotions and his common sense, Oswald saddled his horse and led him out to the paddock. It might take a while to work through his emotions.
* * *
While brushing out the tangles of her hair, Aphrodite thought of the conversation she had with Oswald—and smiled wryly at the jealousy she had heard in his voice when she had mentioned Lord Easton.
It felt a bit heartening that she could pry such an emotion from him, and it occurred to her that not once had she seen Oswald smile. She had handled his glares, seen anger flash across his eyes and viewed his stony flat look. Even when they had kissed, he was stoic, and she had never seen him smile.
Sadly, she would not have a chance to prod one from him, as she had to follow Lady Pandora’s orders and stick to the men she had been partnered with. She had to play the game until she found a way to break the rules. Until then, she had to stay clear of Oswald or she might set her plans askew.
