Val nodded, flushing. Of course, she would need someone to read to her. He guiltily realized that he should have offered to spend some time reading to his blind wife. Perhaps those women were right about him in more than one regard. Perhaps, Cecily deserved someone who was more considerate, as well as someone who was not so ugly.
“And,” she said, gently but clumsily putting the box she held into his lap. “I got you something.”
Val raised an eyebrow at her.
“Oh?” he asked. “What is it?”
Cecily giggled and pointed to the box.
“Open it,” she said.
Val did as his wife asked, removing the lid from the box and pulling back the packing paper. When he saw what was inside, he gasped. There lay two suit coats. They were exactly his size, one deep crimson and the other a rich cream color.
“Heavens,” he said, admiring the jackets. “These are handsome coats. But how did you…?”
Cecily giggled again.
“Greta helped me with your size and… colour,” she said. “And I thought that those two colours might be two that you don’t already have. I hope that you like them.”
Val looked from his wife to the coats. They were both lush velvet and indeed, two colors he did not have. He marveled at his wife’s intuition and even more so at her thoughtfulness. But his wonder was quickly replaced with guilt. She was so kind and beautiful, but people were saying terrible things about her. And he felt sure it was all because of him.
Still, he knew that he couldn’t let his misery show. Especially not after Cecily had just done something so kind for him. He gently put the coats back in the box and summoned Frank to take them to his room.
“Cecily, I am touched,” he said truthfully. “That was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
Cecily blushed and grinned.
“I am so glad that you like them,” she said shyly.
Val gave her the warm smile she deserved, but inside he felt like screaming.
“I do,” he said.
Just then, Greta arrived with the tea. They partook in the pastries he had purchased and the tea, and Val listened intently as Cecily told him more about her adventures. But his mind never left the bakery and the cruel words of the women. It made him angry that people would judge Cecily so harshly without even knowing her. And he knew it was all his fault.
When Cecily told him about her encounter with the clerk to whom she introduced herself, his heart stopped.
“That sounds lovely,” he said aloud.But that woman was judging you, just as the women at the bakery were,he added silently. What had he done to such a beautiful woman by convincing her to marry him?
“I cannot wait to find out what your surprise for tomorrow is,” Cecily said suddenly.
Val blinked, momentarily confused. Then he remembered that he had planned a surprise picnic down by the lake for the following day. He had even considered telling Cecily that he was developing feelings for her in the hopes that she felt the same way.
Now, however, after hearing those ladies in the bakery, he knew that was unwise. He would do his best to keep up pretenses so as to not ruin the day for Cecily. But he now knew that she deserved much better than him. How could he ever make things right?
Chapter Twenty-seven
“Oh, Greta,” Cecily squealed as the maid helped her undress.
“Your Grace,” Greta giggled as she worked. “If you keep squirming, I will have your dress on you upside down.”
Cecily laughed.
“I would not care,” she said. “As excited as I am right now, it would not matter to me. I just can't wait to see what surprise Val has in store for today.”
Greta giggled again.”
“He will be surprised, as well, with you wearing your dress all out of place,” she said.
