Page 37 of The Lord who Seduced Me
Jacob kissed her hand softly, “I feel the same. Rhia has been keeping me company.”
Rhia giggled softly, “Not particularly good company. I am still too quiet. I am used to being alone.”
Jacob smiled over at her, “I am not good company either. You are not the only ones. I am still recovering. I just am so happy that you are here with me.”
Rhia smiled and Rose was so happy that Jacob was exactly who she thought he would be.
Rose looked at Rhia, “Are you tired? Do you need to rest? Aidan wouldn’t want you to push yourself.”
Rhia shook her head, “This is the only thing I can do. I cannot go riding to find Burk, I cannot help Lydia with healing, and I cannot help anyone else. But I can sit here and keep Jacob company and read to him and I only wanted to help in the smallest way. If you will excuse me, I will go to my room so I can lay down.”
Rose felt awful as Rhia stood and walked away. Jacob called out to her, but Rhia shook her head, giving him a soft smile and walking out the door, shutting it behind her.
Jacob looked at Rose and he pleaded at her with his eyes, “Rhiannon has been so wonderful to me. She and I both cannot do what we want, as both Aidan and Lydia have not thought we are able to help. But I want to tell you that after spending the time with Rhia, and getting to know my new daughter, I will let you know that she is more capable than any of us give her credit for. She has also had a hard life but did everything for herself. And all of you, including Aidan, forget that she has only had everyone do things for her for this short amount of time. While she did have Julia help sometimes, Rhia mainly had to figure things out for herself. She went from very capable to someone Aidan treats as if she is spun glass. And now apparently so do you. Go find her Rose. She deserves to be treated as though she knows what she wants. Because I can assure you, she does.”
Rose felt horrible and so ashamed of herself that she would have made Rhia feel bad. She knew that Rhia was very capable and she hated that she had even caused her to have a little bit of heartache.
Rose hugged Jacob, “I will be back with her. I promise.”
Jacob nodded, “I know you will.”
Rose hurried from the room and toward Aidan and Rhia’s suite of rooms.
She knocked on the door and when she heard no response, she opened the door and peeked inside.
Rhia was not inside. Rose cursed softly to herself and hurried from the room, going in search of Rhia.
She looked in every one of the rooms upstairs, aside from the one Burk and everyone else was in and went downstairs.
She knew Rhia struggled with the stairs, but Rose also knew that she had most likely had stairs in her own home and had learned to navigate them.
Rose was ashamed of herself. And needed to make it right. She opened the door to the library and walked inside.
Rhia was sitting on a window seat looking out the window, and she had tears on her cheeks.
Rose walked toward her and touched Rhia’s shoulder softly. Rhia jumped slightly and turned her face away, using her hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
When Rhia turned to look who it was, she smiled slightly and turned back to look outside again.
“What are you doing here Rose? Come to find me so I can go rest? I just need a moment and I will do so. You can go tell Aidan I will be up in a moment.”
Rose sighed, “No, I didn’t come here for that. I came to apologize to you. I should have never questioned you. I know you, how capable you are, despite your wounds and the troubles you had. I am sorry that I ever made you feel as if you were a glass bauble that is to be looked at and not touched.”
Rhia finally turned to look at her and gave her another tiny smile.
“Thank you Rose.”
Rose sighed, “I know you must not believe me, but I mean every word. I may not know every secret and every moment of your life, but that is my fault. I should have tried harder. I was always lost in my own mind and with my own problems. And it has made me become someone I do not recognize anymore. I apologize Rhia. Truly. Please forgive me.”
Rhia turned fully and hugged Rose. “I know you have had a lot of stress in your life since we first met. I understand it. And I forgive you. I know you all know that I am not as fragile as Aidan has made you believe.”
Rose snorted. “You aren’t and I hope that you show him that you aren’t fragile either.”
Rhia laughed, “He has a thick skull and doesn’t always listen. But I know he loves me and is just worried. I understand it, even if it is hard on me.”
Rose hugged Rhia again, “Come, Jacob wants you to come back. Please.”
Rhia bit her lip and Rose said, “It was Jacob that made me realize that I am treating you as Aidan does. I don’t want you to ever feel like you aren’t good enough to be here and that you aren’t enough to stand at Aidan’s side.”
