Page 17 of Adoringly, Edward
He tried to pull his arm out of Vivienne’s grip, but she held tight and smiled at Clara, saying, “Lord Beaumont has agreed to accompany us. How enjoyable will it be to catch up with both of you?”
Clara returned a tight smile. “Indeed.”
The moment his sister turned her back to them, Edward elbowed Vivienne in the ribs. She elbowed him right back before pasting on a smile when Clara glanced over her shoulder.
Fear wormed its way into his chest as he stared at his sister while gathering a warm coat and shoes for the outing. What was she going to do to him? How would he be punished? Would she lock him in his room without supper for a day or two? Would she prevent him from seeing his friends for several weeks? Would she raise a hand to strike him?
Worry over his fate successfully distracted him as he waited outside with the others in the chilly air as the servants readied the topless carriage. A frosty breath escaped his lips, the chill nipping at every exposed piece of skin.
He didn’t mind the cold. Actually, he rather enjoyed it when it offered fresh air and a lively nip to the skies.
After the carriage rounded the estate, he climbed in first, scooting to the farthest side of the bench. Clara sat directly in the middle, clearly meaning for Vivienne to take up the seat on her other side to separate them and to make speaking to one another difficult.
What he hadn’t expected was for Vivienne to climb the steps into the carriage and forcefully wedge herself between the two of them until Clara was compelled to scoot over.
Edward rested his mouth in his hand to hide the grin breaking free from his careful reserve. He’d forgotten how…abrasiveVivienne could be. If she wanted something, she wasn’t the kind of person to allow others to trod over her. He’d always admired her determined attitude in every facet of her life.
It seemed as if she hadn’t changed much.
As the carriage rolled forward, Edward was hyperaware of the brush of Vivienne’s shoulder, of the tip of her shoe resting against his, of her scarf pooling over his upper thigh. He tried to ignore it by turning his attention to the passing scenery as the women talked, fully expecting to be snubbed.
Which was why his heart gave a start as Vivienne turned to him and animatedly spoke of her excitement over the winter markets coming to town any day now. His breath hitched as she rested one of her knees against his, stealing his thoughts from his mind and making him unable to think clearly.
“I bought the most beautiful scarf from the winter market a few years back,” Vivienne continued as she took her current scarf from her own neck and draped it over his, flipping it around his neck like a warm embrace. “It has the most intricate beaded work done by the northern mountain villagers. I can barely bring myself to wear it, I love it so much.”
“Is that not the point?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “A book is not well-loved unless it’s nearly falling apart.”
Clara scoffed. “No one wants to hear about your books, Edward.” She leaned closer to Vivienne and murmured, “Don’t mind him. He’s frightfully boring.” And quickly, she changed the subject to frilly things like ribbons and bows and gossip.
He sighed and rested his chin in his hand, returning his attention toward the turning landscape. Only a few brown leaves remained on bare trees, waiting for the next windy breeze to pluck them from their home and take them on a flight through the kingdom.
He related all too much with the lone leaves, stuck in one place and unable to explore the world. Slowly dying until it waited to take its last breath.
“Right Edward?” Vivienne asked, snapping his attention back to her. He needn’t ask for clarification when she spokeagain. “I do enjoy a good book. Remember when we took the largest volume of fairy tales to our secret hideout when we were children?” The woman giggled behind a gloved hand. “You read stories in the most captivating way.”
Edward laughed as he recalled the fun adventures they’d had within the pages of a book. There had never been a dull moment that passed between them. He’d missed their friendship. Immensely. “I rather enjoyed your attempts at creating the characters’ voices. Especially little frog prince.”
“Oh dear.” She chuckled again. “I have not attempted the feat in many years.”
Clara cleared her throat loudly before speaking to the driver. “I fear I am growing far too cold for such an outing. Let us return home for a warm spot of tea.”
With a single nod, the driver found a place to turn around, and all too soon, they headed back toward the estate.
Disappointment rushed through Edward at having their excursion cut short. His shoulders slumped. A sigh escaped his lips. He loved the outdoors. But it wasn’t often that Clara would allow him to leave the house. In fact, he’d been able to leave far less than usual lately, especially after the terrible episode he’d experienced weeks ago.
“Tis no matter,” Vivienne said with a nonchalant wave of her hand. “There is plenty to do indoors. How about a game?”
Before he managed an answer, Clara cut in, “Oh, that sounds lovely. I think it’s just what we need.”
“Edward?”
Behind Vivienne, Clara nearly imperceptibly shook her head, a warning flashing in her eyes. If the punishment for this excursion was going to be bad, the consequence for defying her would be worse.
“I…umm…” He swallowed as he returned his gaze to Vivienne, trying to hide the fear swirling in his gut. “I have a lot of work to do. Perhaps another time.”
“Oh.” The disappointment in her own eyes cracked his heart. Maybe she missed his friendship just as much as he missed hers. “Yes, perhaps another time.”
And then she turned back to his sister and spoke about the frilly things Clara enjoyed, all while both ignored him entirely. A cold loneliness crawled into the very foundation of his bones, an aching melancholy slowly turning his blood to stone.
