Page 76 of The Sound of Seduction
But Wendy remained solemn, as if she were being told how many questions she’d missed on that exam. For what were exams if not small tests of life?
“I told him—verbatim—that I only want to keep my little sister safe and see her happy.”
“What does that mean?” Pippa asked, her eyes searching Wendy’s. “Did he ask for her hand, and you declined? You didn’t give your blessing?” Pippa’s eyes were wide, but Wendy’s heart plummeted.
Her gaze roamed over the table, drinking in every exquisite bloom. Speckled petals, intricate swirls of shades, blush-tinged edges—it seemed impossible that such beauty could be real. She cherished his presence here, in the quiet elegance of this gesture, in the soft echoes of the floral symphony he’d composed for her. And she’d have to remember this for the rest of her life since she was going to have to stay put. This fleeting glimpse into the adventures that Prince Stan could offer was all but a dream. And even though Nick didn’t mean to hurt her, his words were shattering her heart.
Her lips curved into a trembling smile. “Thank you for hearing him out at least.” She let her head hang.
“Well, I put a condition on my blessing,” Nick said.
Her voice quivered, but as the words escaped her, it felt like a mighty dam breaking within her chest. A rush of warmth surged through her, unstoppable and fierce, flooding every corner of her being with a torrent of life and hope she hadn’t dared to let bloom again.
“Oh, Nick!” Pippa hugged his arm, tugging at him with playful affection. Nick adjusted his stance, a faint, warm smile softening his features as he looked at Wendy.
“I wouldn’t decline you anything that makes you happy, Wendy. And it’s your decision—you’re smarter than me, little sister,” he said with quiet sincerity, his voice steady but warm.
Wendy felt her heart quicken, anticipation rising like the hush before an overture’s first note. “So, what condition did you put?” she asked, her breath catching in her throat.
Nick hesitated for just a moment before admitting, “That he doesn’t steal you away from my life. From our lives. Not just Pippa and me, but also Alfie, Andre, and Felix.” For an instant, his voice broke—the familiar crack tugged at her memory, just as it did when he was almost still a boy, trying not to cry when they put flowers on their parents’ grave before they left their childhood home so Nick could study medicine. That raw, boyish vulnerability unraveled something deep within her. “We’d miss you,” he added softly.
And Wendy knew he couldn’t bear to lose her as much as she couldn’t bear to lose him.
She loved Stan though and wanted him in her life now. Forever. The thought struck her like sunlight piercing through a stormy sky, warming her from within. Tears blurred her vision as her chest tightened. Warmth coursed through her entire being, a rush of gratitude and love so intense it left her trembling. His unspoken longing, and the strength it took to voice it, struck her—and in that moment, she knew: she belonged. She wasn’t just part of their lives; she was essential. The weight of that connection wrapped around her heart, unshakable and grounding her in the glow of the family she cherished as much as they cherished her.
“I have to go to him!” Wendy said, rushing to the door. “Let’s go to the ball! Please!”
When she reached the door, he didn’t release her hand immediately, clasping it gently as he continued to assess her. “Before we leave,” he said, his voice softening, “Pippa has something for you.”
Wendy glanced curiously at Pippa. The other woman’s elation was poorly disguised, her bright eyes betraying that whatever this “something” was, it brought her great joy to deliver it.
“Come,” Pippa said, motioning toward the small office tucked behind the main hall. Nick gently guided Wendy toward it, the steadying comfort of his presence lingering even as he released her hand at the door. Pippa moved toward the small writing desk by the window in the drawing room, where a neat stack of papers sat waiting. Turning back to Wendy, she extended them with careful purpose.
“What’s this?” Wendy asked hesitantly, her fingers brushing the parchment as she took it.
Pippa folded her hands in front of her, her demeanor both serious and brimming with affection. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time,” she began. “Nick and I have discussed it, and we both agree there’s no one better suited to the task. And it kills two birds with one stone.”
“But you love animals so much, you’d never hit them with stone. Not even in the proverbial meaning.” Wendy laughed.
“True,” Pippa beamed. “So, it’s a task I’d like to give you.”
“Task?” Wendy echoed, glancing at Nick for another hint, but he only offered her a small, reassuring smile.
Pippa stepped closer, her voice gentler now. “We’ve struggled to find someone who could be the beating heart of Cloverdale House. Nick and the other doctors can’t commit the way the position demands, not when they have the practice and all the other patients who rely on them. But you…” Pippa’s face glowed with sincerity. “You’ve already been that heart of the practiceand do it with a flair that invites even more. We want you to lead Cloverdale House. Run it for us.”
The words burrowed into Wendy’s chest, lodging there with surprising weight. She looked down at the papers in her hands but didn’t truly see them.
Deed of Appointment
Gwendolyn Folsham, Director of the Rehabilitation Center
Cloverdale House, Abbotsberry Road, London
Whereas: The Cloverdale House Rehabilitation Center, located at Abbotsberry Road, London, is established to provide necessary care, convalescence, and assistance for individuals seeking restoration of health and well-being, and is in need of an individual to oversee its governance, operations, and welfare.
Now Know Ye That I, Lady Philippa Folsham, acting as Trustee and Patroness of Cloverdale House, do hereby appoint Miss Gwendolyn Folsham to the position of Director of the Rehabilitation Center.
Hereafter Stated:
